Meet Aida Stenholm | Shoe designer / Shoe maker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Aida Stenholm and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Aida, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I have wanted to make shoes since I was a very little girl. Life happens and things get in the way but we ran into an opportunity to restart and I had the opportunity to do anything I wanted. I immediately knew what I wanted and off to Peru we went to take some design classes and make some contacts for materials and things.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My shoes are differentiated because I design every detail. The colors, patterns, textures and even the soles are unique to my shoes. I offer a service that no one in the region really does – you can come into my shop or on my website and step by step select the leather and color combinations and then measure your foot and in a couple of weeks, get one of a kind wearable art.

The were many growing pains getting to where we are today. The most painful lessons were learning import/export, the shipping minefield, and just rookie design mistakes that were quite frustrating for a while. The only way to overcome those were to dig in and learn. We talked to everyone who offered advice, communicated as often as possible with customers and counterparties. We found everyone willing to be patient with us while we got it right. In the end, everyone wants the same thing, it’s just sometimes hard to get there.

We’re still not perfect but we have loyal customers who trust us to make it as close to perfect as possible. I have no problem completely scrapping a pair of shoes and starting over if it isn’t absolutely fantastic. There is no better feeling for me than when a customer is moved to tears or audible squeaks of joy when they first get to put on their new shoes.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
There are some really fun, quirky activities in Wichita. The Mid-American All-Indian Museum is a fascinating afternoon and it sits just across the river from a fun, artsy neighborhood called Delano. There are tons of shops, eateries and cocktails. Another spot for an afternoon is Exploration place. My son got us turned on to this because they market to kids but the activities are great fun – we use him as an excuse to play with the hands on exhibits ourselves. We would definitely kick back in the Old Town district for a vibrant live music scene and polish off a night at Mort’s Martini Bar. Catching some sun at our brand new ball part and rooting on the Wichita Wind Surge is always fun (this also puts you in Delano for the above mentioned cocktails/wine). If so inclined, we may even hit the river for some kayaking or canoeing. What beats an afternoon on the water?

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many people that have helped along the way. Too many to count. The biggest shout out is to my Husband, Brett. I had this crazy plan and he didn’t hesitate – quit his job, sold our house, moved to Peru for a while and then started over when we got back to the USA – all just to make my dream come true.

Website: www.aidastenholm.com

Instagram: @aida.stenholm

Twitter: killasumaq by aida stenholm

Facebook: aida stenholm

Youtube: aida stenholm

Image Credits
Amy Dye Photography