Everyone loves great shoes that both look good and feel great, but for many school-children in Nigeria, having such shoes is simply not an option. For entrepreneur shoemaker, Temilade Adegbite, founder of Right Legs, her passion for making great shoes combined with her desire to make a difference to these young lives, was the inspiration for her business.
LoA learned more about Temilade Adegbite and her vision to create shoes with a social conscience and impact.
What does your company do?
Right Legs is a bespoke shoemaking business that specializes in the creation of men’s, women’s and children’s footwear, including a range of shoes, sandals and slippers, all produced using our unique designs.
“In starting Right Legs, the goal was to cater for those customers needing to find footwear in big-sizes, and also to support kids in need in their desire to have good footwear to wear to school.”
What inspired you to start your company?
I personally happen to be big-sized in footwear, and getting the kind of designs that I wanted to wear but in my size was never easy (that's if you can get them at all). I noticed that I was not alone in this challenge, and that there were plenty of other people facing similar challenges. So I thought, why not create the unique shoe designs that all foot sizes can benefit from. Also, seeing children with no good shoes to wear to school broke my heart. In starting Right Legs, the goal was to cater for those customers needing to find footwear in big-sizes, and also to support kids in need in their desire to have good footwear to wear to school.
Why should anyone use your service or product?
Right Legs offers quality and classy bespoke footwear in various unique designs, and the good news is that our footwear is available in ALL SIZES. Also, 5% on the price of every set of footwear bought by our customers goes towards the making of school shoes for kids that can't afford to buy them.
“Right Legs offers quality and classy bespoke footwear in various unique designs, and the good news is that our footwear is available in ALL SIZES.”
Tell us a little about your team
My team is made up of two shoemakers and an administrative assistant who runs our day to day activities.
Share a little about your entrepreneurial journey. And, do you come from an entrepreneurial background?
No, I didn't come from an entrepreneurial background. Most people around me are office workers. In terms of my inspiration to embark on this entrepreneurial journey, as a child I was always a fan of shoes, but as I grew older it became more difficult getting the designs I wanted for my size. When I reached University, I undertook a survey and got to know that there were plenty of other students facing such issues, and it was then that I thought, “Why not learn this shoemaking craft and produce different designs that all sizes can benefit from.” So I did my research, found specialist training programmes, and learned the craft of shoemaking for myself. Building a business that produces bespoke shoes for my customers means that I am also able to make my contribution to society at a social impact level, using my expertise to produce shoes for those kids that don’t have them.
“From a social mission perspective, our goal is to reach out to kids in other cities and countries, giving them access to great footwear they can be proud of.”
What are your future plans and aspirations for your company?
Right Legs is on a mission to produce quality, classy and bespoke footwear that incorporates Africa themed designs that can appeal to, and stand out, in the international marketplace. From a social mission perspective, our goal is to reach out to kids in other cities and countries, giving them access to great footwear they can be proud of.
What gives you the most satisfaction being an entrepreneur?
The fact that I can solve the problem of access to footwear in different sizes. You don't have to worry about whether the shoe you love and want to buy is available in your size - we make sure it is made to the size you need. Also, the satisfaction we get from our ability to create great shoes from raw materials, producing something that is both beautiful and practical and that everyone wants on their feet. I also get to create shoes for our future leaders.
What's the biggest piece of advice you can give to other women looking to start-up?
Find the need and solve the problem.
Contact or follow Right Legs
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | EMAIL therightlegs@gmail.com
Why LoA loves it….
Passion drives profit as the saying goes, but passion and the desire to make a difference in the world whilst building a successful business is the driving force for many women entrepreneurs in Africa. For entrepreneur Temilade Adegbite, she was motivated to find a practical business solution to a market need that she personally experienced. But that business specialization opened up the opportunity and added bonus of being able to change lives positively as a result. It’s great to see women entrepreneurs who are making a difference and creating sustainable businesses at the same time. --- Melanie Hawken, founder and ceo of Lionesses of Africa