144 Tell me a bit about how the label was started. What was the inspiration etc? VOYLOK started as a kickstarter when our founder Andrei saw an opportunity to bring an old slavic felt boot into the modern world. The kickstarter was a great success with over 200 backers from all over the world! From there, we knew that the world was ready for a boot like ours. How were the initial products developed and what was the response? These are an updated version of an old boot called a Valenki. We have improved them by making them lighter, thinner and moulded them to a custom last for a better fit. They also come with a left and right foot – it may seem obvious but the old fashioned Valenki came just as a pair, and you moulded them to your left and right feet over time. The response is a bit like marmite – people either love them or hate them. They are a unique boot – quite Scandinavian in their aesthetic really; super minimalist without any seams, stitches, laces etc. We think they look like beautiful sculptures – but we know we are biased! What challenges did you face and how were they overcome when starting the business? Working with tiny workshops who weren’t used to changing how they made things was a big challenge (and still is!) Plus, following the Russian invasion of Ukraine we have had to move our manufacturing to Kazakhstan, which has meant starting all over with new partners. This has been a huge challenge but one we are 100% committed to. What is it that sets you apart from your competitors? Our boot is unlike anything else out there in the market – it’s “un-tech”, it’s back to nature with an incredibly sustainable product that gives you
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