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

Hi Raphael, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting my business was making things I could not afford. As my business evolved, it went from that to making things others could not find.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m most proud of the fact that I constantly decide to keep going despite having no financial backing. One interesting thing I’ve learned along my journey is “money talks, art walks”. Appraising/comparing art seems counter productive as art in and of itself is to personal. Same goes for struggling. It was and still continues to be extremely difficult to navigate with my art in a money driven world. I constantly overcome that battle by not caring about money more than friends and helping others. I crochet whatever my customers can think of. Usually personal items both fashion and apparel. No idea to crazy is the intent.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Would take them to cheese man park everyday. And once in the week long trip we would camp. Since I’m a fan of soccer I would take them to a timber wolves game. All eating would take place at Snarfs sandwich shop🙏🏾🤘🏾

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?
My mother who passed thanksgiving morning 2019. She taught me to crochet mongst other things. She would def. be the biggest and only reason behind my success.

Website: https://www.aliveshoes.com/krokicks

Instagram: Kroshay44

Facebook: Raphael Kroshay

Image Credits
Raphael Kroshay

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