South African Veldskeon brand has just received a massive investment from US-based billionaire Mark Cuban pushing the brand to a global market.
South Africa – The Veldskoen is a uniquely South African leather shoe. The history of the shoe is as diverse as South Africa itself. It is said they first came to be created in the 17th century when the first Dutch settlers came to South Africa and became inspired by the footwear used by the Khoisan.
The shoes were then adapted and used during the Great Trek. Now centuries later, the shoes are fast becoming a must-have fashion accessory. The Veldskoen, also known as “Vellies” has received a significant boost.
Shark Tank investor Mark Cuban, an American billionaire, made his fortune through a number of business ventures. It all started while he was in university and he turned an average student bar into the most successful one on campus. His knack for business grew from there and led him to build up and sell a computer company which made him a millionaire.
After a brief stint as a globetrotting party animal, he dived back into business and built his fortune. Now, the Shark Tank investor has set his sights on the proudly South African brand of footwear.
Mark has invested in the Veldskoen company and now owns a 50% share of the company. This doesn’t mean that the company will be moved away from the motherland; in fact, 100% of the manufacturing will stay right here in South Africa.
“All our products are made here. Our teams are here. Our design team is here. We don’t have any intention of trying to get the business to manufacture or scale outside of South Africa. It’s a South African product, and it always should be.” – Nick Dreyer, the CEO and co-founder of Veldskoen
So what does this investment mean? Well, it means that Veldskoen will have a broader global reach. The likes of Prince Harry, who is said to be a big fan of the shoes, will be able to buy them in his own country at a shop around the corner. In a piece written on the Business Insider, Dreyer shared his delight at hearing Prince Harry was a fan.
“We’re delighted to hear that Prince Harry is a fan of Veldskoen, especially due to his active participation in conservation – an initiative we hold close and dear to our hearts,”
The richly South African shoe is no longer a shoe for just comfort and mobility; it has since become a fashion icon for thousands of South Africans and globetrotters alike. We applaud this news and cannot wait to see where the business ventures next.
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