Over the past year, I’ve had the honor of learning more about Sseko Designs, one of my favorite socially-minded brands using fashion for good. Through their thoughtful business model, they empower women in Uganda to do dignified work that directly goes into their college educations, which means that every purchase made directly impacts someone’s ability to pursue their dreams.

Back in April, I had the amazing opportunity to partner with Sseko to try out a new offering they’re adding to their lineup of already incredible clothing, accessories, and gorgeous shoes — creating a pair of custom sandals! From the sandal style to the color of the straps to the embellishments you add on, you can truly create a one-of-a-kind pair of sandals like nothing you’d ever find in a department store.

The Process

Now, creating your very own custom pair of sandals sounds exciting enough, right? But what’s even better is that Sseko has made this such an engaging and interactive process so it’s truly an experience, not just another online shopping encounter. The way it works is that you’re put in touch with a local Sseko Fellow who will arrange a time to meet with you in person to show you all the leather options, shoe styles, and embellishments that are available. Surprisingly, there aren’t any Sseko Fellows based in Waco (yet!), but Caitlin from Fort Worth graciously offered to drive down to Waco to walk me through the process over coffee.

We decided to meet at one of my favorite local coffee shops, BRU, and we grabbed a table to spread out and dive into the designing process. Caitlin blew me away as she pulled out leather swatch books filled with any color you could possibly want, sample shoe styles ranging from platform wedges to minimal crossovers, and handmade beaded embellishments that can be attached to most sandal designs!

I was so impressed by how easy Sseko made the kind of overwhelming process of choosing all the elements that will go into your sandal. Literally, you’re designing your pair from the ground up so you’re making so many fun choices along the way! Caitlin provided a paper guide that walked me through the different styles, as well as the different color options for the soles of each one, so I could look at the specs on paper while viewing a sample shoe style in person, too.

But if you’re more visual, like I am, sometimes you need to be able to envision how your design will look in person. Which is why I loved the digital simulator that enables you to see your design as a digital rendering before making a final decision! Caitlin pulled up the digital designer on her iPad and I was able to click through all sorts of color and style options to see how things could look in person.

Given my love of neutrals and need for a versatile sandal style that can take me through the tough Texas summers in style, I started looking at flat sandal styles with a more minimal strap to increase versatility. I settled on the Rue sandal style which features a wide front strap with an ankle strap that wraps around your ankle easily.

Designing my Custom Sandals

From there, I started flipping through all the amazing color options I could choose from for the leather of my straps. If I wanted, I even could have chosen different leather colors for the front and ankle straps for something truly unique! But, I won’t lie, the soft beige I ended up choosing easily won my heart.

Once Caitlin and I narrowed down the colors I wanted to use for the shoe and straps, we got to explore whether or not I wanted to add on an embellishment of some kind to the front strap. Sseko has tons of options ranging from beads to colored thread to removable designs that you can simply swap out as the season (or your mood!) changes. I almost went with no embellishment, but once I saw a few of the gold options they had in the digital design simulator, I was sold.

I ended up choosing a brass beading design sewn directly onto the front strap of the sandal for a modern look that complements the neutral color of the leather. It elevates the simple shape of the sandal itself, and I can so easily see myself using these for a day at the farmers market or a casual date night out!

Once I’d made my final design selections, Caitlin sent off the order to Sseko HQ and a talented member of the Sseko team in Uganda got to work creating these beauties just for me. I can’t express what a special feeling it is to know that someone is intentionally designing something just for you, and also knowing that product is directly impacting her ability to pursue her dreams! Due to the made-to-order nature of custom sandals, it takes about a month to receive your pair in the mail. That said, it’s totally worth it when your box of custom sandals arrives on your front porch!

The Final Result

I’m absolutely in love with the final product and am blown away by the quality of the stitching, leather, and overall design. I’m already scheming for ways to work these beauties into my summer wardrobe as the temps continue to rise, and this probably won’t be the last pair of custom sandals I design with Sseko.

To design a pair of your own custom sandals, head here to get started. And for all my Fort Worth-area friends, be sure to get in touch with Caitlin to start the process! She’s absolutely wonderful and will help you design the pair of your dreams.

If you were designing a pair of custom sandals, what style and colors would you choose? Let me know in the comments below!