Two social entrepreneurs find that it’s possible to do well, by doing good.  Common Soles LLC, sells footwear to generate funding to support community improvement initiatives in the footwear manufacturing regions of the world. Common Soles just released its first line of flip-flops, which will generate funding to support the education of the factory workers' children in India.

These first styles from Common Soles are a simple, yet fashionable, women’s flip-flop. “Easily worn with a sun-dress or with jeans, our friends just love these fun and versatile flip-flops,” said Co-Founder and CEO Dave Mesicek.  A portion of proceeds will go to help fund education for the children of the workers at Sharada Industries in Vijayawada, India by funding the purchase of updated and new school books.  This is the facility which made the flip-flops that Common Soles is selling.  “The workers know that each pair sold, directly benefits their children, so they are proud to be making these flip-flops for us and we are proud to be selling them!” said Dave.

Common Soles’ founders, Dave Mesicek and Rao Naraharasetty, first met while earning their MBAs at Babson College in Wellesley, MA.  Since graduation they have remained friends and discovered that they both had the necessary skills to launch Common Soles.  They founded and self-funded the organization in 2009 and are looking to grow the organization by working with factories and communities across the globe. 

By creating quality footwear in tandem with the factories, Dave and Rao get to know the people in and around the workers’ home communities.  “Often their needs are simple: a new roof for the school, funding for a needed vaccine, and new and updated school books” said Co-Founder and COO Rao Naraharasetty.  Dave and Rao work with the factory to create and align a product for a specific initiative in the local community.  Common Soles then markets and sells the product in the US (and eventually around the world) as a method of raising the needed funds to bring the identified community initiative to fruition.  Currently, Common Soles is working with Sharada Industries in India, but has also begun building relationships with factories and communities in Latin America, Eastern Europe, and even the US.

Common Soles products are available online at www.commonsoles.com and via select retailers.