To celebrate this year’s International Women’s Day on the 8th March, the ladies that bring you your daily dose of The Sole Supplier and The Sole Womens goodness are giving you a little insight into what they do and who inspires them to do it.
We’re proud to say that nearly 50% of the TSS & TSW team is made up of women and without them, we wouldn’t be able to do everything we do. So, if you want to get to know the ladies behind the keyboards, keep scrolling!
“I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I remember having a little designing kit and doing drawings of different outfits in a sketchbook! ” Kelly, Content Writer for The Sole Womens
What’s your favourite part about working in the sneaker industry? I love how the sneaker industry is so fast paced. There’s always something new dropping, new colourways, new silhouettes – it makes my job so much more interesting always being busy and keeping up with what’s going on.
What was your dream job when you were a kid? I always wanted to be a fashion designer. I remember having a little designing kit and doing drawings of different outfits in a sketchbook! I also always loved writing and making little novels when I was really young so the fact I now write about fashion and take part in styling and photoshoots is just a dream!
What’s the one piece of advice you think every woman should hear? My piece of advice to every woman would be to take on every opportunity. I was always such a shy person and never really wanted to step outside my comfort zone when I was younger.
I also feel like you shouldn’t worry about what your friends are doing or compare yourself to other people as your journey is so independent and different. This time last year I had quit my job, had no idea what I was going to do and felt completely lost, and now I’m working with my best friend every day, in my dream job at an amazing company that allows you to be creative and is so supportive of progression. Comparing yourself to other people can be your biggest downfall and put you into such a negative head space; think hard about what you want to do, where you want to be and bring a positive attitude everywhere with you and you’ll get to where you’re meant to be!
What makes you feel empowered? Being independent, not relying on anyone else to make me happy and looking back at how far I’ve come over the past few years. I should give myself a pat on the back more for how much I’ve accomplished given my circumstances!
Who’s your girl-power hero? I don’t have just one girl-power hero, I feel like there’s different people around me that inspire me every day! My mum inspires me to work hard to get where you want to be, my best friend (who’s also the Head of Creative here at TSW) kills is every single day and my housemate does amazing charity work. All the women in my life are my heroes!
“Always be kind to those who are unkind because they’re the ones that need it most. ” Paige, Writer for The Sole Supplier
What’s your favourite part about working in the sneaker industry? I feel like the sneaker industry is very millennial. I love that the work culture is very relaxed, understanding and flexible. The mentality in this industry is work hard, play hard, and it’s amazing! The industry also comes with an amazing community attached! Sneakerheads always band together.
What was your dream job when you were a kid? When I was little, I wanted to be a teacher. I used to create fake registers and set homework for my 'students'. Then one day I watched The Devil Wears Prada and thought it looked pretty sick to work in fashion so, here I am! After getting a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing, I headed straight to Harrods to be a copywriter and I haven’t put my pen down since.
What’s the one piece of advice you think every woman should hear? Work hard to fall in love with your body, flaws and all, and always be kind to those who are unkind because they’re the ones that need it most.
What makes you feel empowered? Women banding together really empowers me. And women standing up for themselves! As a woman, it’s easy to be a people pleaser, but someone having the guts to say “actually, no. That’s not right” is so inspiring to me.
Who’s your girl-power hero? Michelle Obama and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie are my role models. After I read Michelle Obama’s book, I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t achieve! Then I watched Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TED Talk and was just in awe – she’s so authentic and she’s such an amazing novelist. They’re two women that have faced a lot of adversity and come out the other side with an inspiring tale to tell.
“For pretty much my entire childhood, I wanted to be an actress. Ironically, I’m now the one behind the camera.” Lana, Lead Videographer
What’s your favourite part about working in the sneaker industry? It’s pretty fun to be surrounded by such passion for sneakers. There’s always something exciting happening; a new release, something to set your heart on buying, followed by heartbreak when you can’t.
I wasn’t hugely into sneakers before this job, but it’s shown me there really is something for everyone!
What was your dream job when you were a kid? For pretty much my entire childhood, I wanted to be an actress. Ironically, I’m now the one behind the camera.
What’s the one piece of advice you think every woman should hear? Make sure you’re taking enough time to look after yourself. Your health and happiness are so important in allowing you to get the most from life, no matter what your goals are. Remember, you’re a strong, independent woman. Treat yourself.
What makes you feel empowered? When I think about how much my life has changed in the past couple of years and what I’ve accomplished with hard work through all the ups and downs. It’s a bumpy road but I’ve got one hand on the wheel and I’m not in reverse, so I think I’m doing pretty good. (That analogy is funny cos I don’t drive)
Who’s your girl-power hero? I suppose I don’t really have a girl-power hero since I’m inspired in so many ways by a ton of different women. I’m inspired by their actions and strength, whether they are real life or fictional, and I think there is so much we can learn from each other every day.
“I’d have to say all the women in my life are my heroes; my best friends and Mum.” Tegan, Head of Creative for The Sole Womens
What’s your favourite part about working in the sneaker industry? I love the buzz, it’s good to be on the other side and getting the inside scoop of what’s going on a few months ahead. It’s also a great excuse to shop a little more than I should. It’s so good to work in a place where everyone shares a common interest!
What was your dream job when you were a kid? I always wanted to be creative, whether it was in fashion or art. I had a picture in my head of all those cool women at fashion houses that you see in the films and wanted to be that. I focused on my art and took a Graphic Design degree at university. After this, freelance illustrating was my everyday life, working for clients such as Dazed and NikeWomen (crazy) before I started at The Sole Women’s two years ago. I feel I’ve definitely got to a place that would make 7-year-old me proud.
What’s the one piece of advice you think every woman should hear? In this day and age, it’s very necessary to remember to be yourself. Don’t focus on other people’s ‘online success’; work on yourself, your strengths and try to be the best version of you, whatever that may mean.
What makes you feel empowered? Thinking about how far I’ve come! I’ve gone from freelancing in my bedroom, not knowing what my next steps were, to working every day at The Sole Womens, running every element of it alongside Kelly (who has luckily been my best friend for 13 years). It’s very rewarding to think we are the two people who make it grow every day.
Who’s your girl-power hero? I’d have to say all the women in my life are my heroes; my best friends and Mum. They all give me so much support and love on a daily basis, so nothing ever feels too bad!
“Stories of my great granny persevering while working under tough conditions on the rice fields of rural Hong Kong inspire me to work my hardest.” Emily, DIGITAL MARKETING & ACQUISITIONS EXEC
What’s your favourite part about working in the sneaker industry? My favourite part about working in the sneaker industry is that, because of my genuine passion for sneakers, work doesn’t feel like “work”, so my work/life balance is perfect! The office team are so talented, and I absolutely love supporting all of the incredible content that is created by them. Another bonus is that we get to see a lot of upcoming pairs in-hand before anybody else, so I find that super exciting!
What was your dream job when you were a kid? I’ve been passionate about social media since I was really young. I always loved creating content and interacting with people on different platforms, so I always knew that social media was a career I wanted to adopt. I started off by supporting social media campaigns for large music festivals across the UK, then ended up combining my love for all-things social with my adoration for sneakers!
What’s the one piece of advice you think every woman should hear? Don’t be put off by doing something, just because it is a male-dominated industry or environment. For example, the sneaker industry is traditionally very male-dominated, but this is changing direction because an increasing number of women are taking an interest in sneaker culture. So never be afraid to be part of that shift!
What makes you feel empowered? At the moment, I’m empowered by the fact that I recently graduated from University and found a job in London I love! I wake up every day excited to go to work and that massively empowers me.
Who’s your girl-power hero? My great granny! Although she’s no longer with us, the stories of her never giving up when working under tough conditions ploughing the rice fields of rural Hong Kong inspires me to be the person I am today. She always had a get-up-and-go attitude, even when things in her family life went wrong, which inspires me to always be positive and look ahead in life.
“I never knew how much I love wearing sneakers until I came to work for The Sole Supplier. ” Dewi, Head of SEO for The Sole Supplier
What’s your favourite part about working in the sneaker industry? I never knew how much I love wearing sneakers until I came to work for The Sole Supplier. Wearing sneakers feels, comfortable, liberating and although in a small way, a step in the direction of equality at the workplace.
What was your dream job when you were a kid? I wanted to be a teacher! Once I got a taste of that dream in university as a Teaching Assistant, I realised it wasn’t for me. I love the essence of being a teacher, researching different subject matters and applying my thought process to make it work better. My job now allows me to research and learn a lot, so I am really happy. Plus, being recently selected to judge an industry award means I still get to grade those papers.
What’s the one piece of advice you think every woman should hear? Communicate, communicate, communicate! Trust your gut and never sell yourself short. And, always learn from your mistakes. The number of times I’ve failed or said the wrong things are countless, but I learned from them and I strive to be a better woman every day.
What makes you feel empowered? I feel empowered every time I face a challenge outside my comfort zone. It’s a big, scary world for everyone and I know I am never alone. I live by the mantra that I read from my favourite book “The Alchemist” by Paulo Coelho – “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
Who’s your girl-power hero? My mom first and foremost. She has relentlessly pushed me to be a better version of myself since day one. But in life, there are always women that are heroes around me! Whether it be in a small or big way – a nod or a smile, an uplifting slack message, a gesture of support, honesty towards each other. When women stick together, there’s nothing we cannot overcome!
