One of the coolest parts of my job at Feelgoodz is that I get to travel to the source of the flop: where each pair is made! Seeing the farms and factories that create each Feelgoodz product is seriously the best and it reinforces my decision to do what I do everyday.
Earlier this month, Kyle and I traveled from North Carolina to Pakistan to begin exploring and developing a new Feelgoodz partnership. We flew into Lahore, Pakistan and spent the weekend fighting jet lag and exploring markets in the old city, inhaling air full of spices and exhaust while soaking in the sights of 400 year old architecture and stalls full of embroidery and woven fabrics. It was beautiful!
We also spent a fair amount of time feasting on Pakistani food…meat on meat on meat! Along with curries, fried rice, oranges, and more food than I could ever eat. I’m pretty sure I gained five pounds while in Pakistan, where large meals are one of the best parts of the day.
From Lahore we traveled to the small town of Gujrat and spent a few days developing at the shoe factory. As we toured this impressive place, my favorite spot was instantly the floor where 330 women work – hand stitching and sewing parts of shoes. What a wonderful sight and what wonderful smiles! In a country that traditionally provides more for men than women, the fact that this company is employing so many women is a huge step forward. Schools and colleges for women are popping up around Pakistan; I saw several in Lahore, and you can see that traditions are beginning to change to give women more opportunity to be educated and begin their own careers.
At the end of a great week in Pakistan, Kyle and I flew to Dubai for two days to explore and go to a business meeting (Feelgoodz is so international). Dubai in one word: ridiculous. But so fun! Full of shiny skyscrapers and five star hotels, the city is a haven for comfort and luxury. Between pampering myself with a manicure and soaking in a spa, we found ourselves at rooftop pool bars and beachside restaurants. The best part of our trip to Dubai was seeing the sunrise on the top of the Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world. Our flops are going places, breaking records!
Check out some pictures of the trip, I can’t wait to go on my next one and share with you all that we’re doing around the world: from farm to foot.
xoxo
Nicole
feelgoodz 