Why Small Businesses Matter
Shop small, do big things for your community
Why Small Businesses Matter puts a spotlight on the local merchants who donate their time, talent, goods, and services for the betterment of our community. The shop local movement spreads virally as local businesses who are “tagged” have the opportunity to share their story!
You're IT Ripa Wear!
Three questions with Indira Desai, CEO of Ripa Wear Inc.
Why did you start your business?
We’re a boutique company, family founded and run, with a focus on designing crazy comfortable sandals with great style to be worn anytime and anywhere! Our collections are inspired by our customers. The Himalayan, our first collection, is a niche brand initially conceived in response to an unmet need for an après sport sandal for athletes.
As a mother of 2 athletes who played multiple sports, I saw a need for an open-air footwear product that provided both the freedom to free their feet from the confined shoes or skates while also providing support and warmth. We quickly discovered that the Himalayans were embraced as the sandal of choice by all family members, not just the athletes at home. Parents, Grandparents and young adults equally responded to the incredible feeling of slipping into an all-natural shearling footbed sandal with warmth, support and comfort enough to wear both at home and about town.
The original collection, The Himalayan shearling sport sandal is our best selling product. This summer, however, we saw a great response to the Sedona, a summer/spring cork styled sandal
Do you use any local businesses to support your business?
Locally, we support both for profit and not for profit businesses. We, however, are most proud of our support of not for profit businesses. An important mission of our company is to help make peoples’ lives better one foot at a time. There are many people who cannot afford footwear or replace footwear. Each year Ripa Wear donates our sandals to global and national non-profit organizations. Local companies we support through product donations include AmeriCares, and CT Quest for Peace and Kids in Distressed Situations (KIDS).
Ripa Wear Inc. is located at 1658 Ponus Ridge in New Canaan. Call the shop at 203.912.2261 or visit them online: www.Ripawear.com.
HamletHub thanks Fairfield County Bank for making our Why Small Businesses Matter series possible!