Ethical Shoes in Guatemala: How a Boot Business Became a Humanitarian Project

[@Stridewise]

See my documentary where I learned bootmaking from Adelante here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnSnqJypqdpqoM0 * The short version of that video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o4fVd5Kpo5Jki9U * "Everything Wrong With the Boots I Made" here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n5ipoKlrndB2a5Y * 10 Things I Learned from Making My Own Boots here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/n2XTYpqud7N3qZI

[@F0XD1E]

The amount of qualification they put behind getting paid well "for here" is pretty meh. Making double the money doing a skilled trade vs selling fruit in a market or whatever is not very impressive. Still better than nothing, though. Hope they pump those numbers if they gain more traction.

[@jaystrongbow9435]

That's a great humanitarian story, love it !!! Any chance you could push the same company in a United States lower income inner city, and use unemployed persons ?

[@Stridewise]

Maybe you're the one to launch it, Jay!

[@jaystrongbow9435]

@@Stridewise I'm pushing 70 and long retired, and don't think I have such a venture left in me. Still its a wonderful video, I enjoyed it and can see the pride of the craftspeople.

[@kailerpetersen6404]

Awesome business, this week my pair of their Havanas in blue came and they look stunning. The whole experience of getting the boots seemed very personalized and well thought out. They came nicely packaged with complimentary conditioner, an extra pair of laces, and a wallet made from the same leather as the boots. Great to know that a quality company is also very employee oriented.

[@Audioguy518]

I echo this comment. Mine came this Tuesday and I liked the QR code cut from the top interior part of the tongue that was then put into the wallet. Great Job!

[@xwhEdward]

Dear Nick, thanks for posting this video! I heard of them for sometime but never really know much about them. This is informative and seriously make me consider them one of my future boot shops!

[@HamBone123456789ten]

The cost per boot would be double. Maybe not quite double but they wouldn’t be affordable. Also, seeing as what the US did to their country, it’s a good thing.

[@davidbarnes7711]

My latest order has been delayed 3 times - ordered on March 16th and delivery is overdue by several weeks. My phone calls, voice messages and emails are not being returned. This is my 3rd order this year and the experience is deteriorating each time. I am trying to support your company but am not getting the proper customer service. Was promised a phone call yesteday with ETA, but, as yet, no response. Poor customer service!

[@sanguinemoon9201]

Just commenting for the algorithm.

[@Stridewise]

What a good guy you are

[@minnesota-hk1vp]

Awesome

[@frankb5693]

Great video…..thanks Nick!

[@AndresOssa]

Genial este video. Me encantaría hacer un proyecto así con mi gente.

[@MarianoCardoza]

Definitely a huge exploitation of my fellow Guatemalans because of poverty once again. Their 2020 Impact report states they pay workers $26 a DAY not hour roughly the amount of time to make a shoe since these are experienced cobbers Interview with the gentlemen at 5:30 indicates 1 can be made half a day he finished afternoon then if he did fulltime maybe 2 can be made for $26 interesting enough Budget Economy shipping from Guatemala to America is 5 - 10 days these people charge well over $200+ dollars a pair some reaching $300 close to american made prices. coming from Peter Sacco mouth "I'm rounding out the last $200k in a $1m round to augment our E-com team and growth!" thats for the year. mind you they avoid everything that the US government would be involved when in comes to a business ex.taxes ,advertising, labor, environmental impact, privacy and health and safety. Their Living well motto is just to make the buyer feel less guilty about buying from yet another sweatshop. interesting enough they bring their American business motto but decided to leave the hourly minimum wage behind from the states.

[@ralph7077]

I looove what they are doing!

[@drakeorion94]

Thats an awesome model

[@dantefields9388]

Seems like you're saying you're making tons of money while avoiding paying American wages like every other foreign operating American capitalist.

[@Stridewise]

it doesn't seem like that at all

[@michellezcano9179]

Dont buy guys shoes are really bad im 2 shoes under with this company

[@thysonsacclaim]

How so?

[@michellezcano9179]

Everything sound like a good ethics there shoes are bad quality shoes guality contral really bad believe me i know i wasted 500 plus dollar in this company 2 shoes that are garbage sorry its just my truth

[@johulu985]

Wonder how much of the $280 price tag of the finished product goes to the worker... paying them more doesn't mean it's still not exploitation.

[@Stridewise]

I mean if you're saying that after listening to everything that went into their wages and insurance and stuff in this video, you're just trying to find reasons to upset yourself

[@johulu985]

@@Stridewise Not upset, just making an observation. Question remains the same regardless, would you not consider this exploitation? But hey if they feel good about themselves then power to them.

[@Stridewise]

@@johulu985 No, this is called employment. Unless you consider all employment exploitation

[@johulu985]

@@Stridewise Hey man, whatever lets you sleep at night.