What a year we had at Ocean Sole Africa!!! Watch our Onwards & Upwards Onwards & Upwards – Ocean Sole Recap 2018 YouTube video. You’ll see some of the highlights we achieved with the help of you, our ever supporting Sole Mates! đ¤Šđđđđ
On top of what is seen in our video, we managed to do all of the below:
Products made:
- Over 65,000 products made in 2018 which have been sold around the globe –from America to Australia
- 5 new CUSTOM made 130cm tall bee sculptures to Netherland and Dubai.
- 1 custom made 2000cm tall bee sculpture to Dubai.
- 2 custom made 200cm dolphins to Hong Kong and the UK.
- 1 life size GREEN SIMBA for the Irish Embassy in Kenya.
- 1 custom made GOAT to the Netherlands.
- 2 custom made huge cool 200cm Octopus.
- 2Â custom made life-size CAMELS.
- 1 cruising HIPPOÂ on a ship in the West Indies.
Our Impact:
- Over 750,000 flip-flops recycled
- Over 1,200 Kenyans supported through employment by Ocean Sole and our eco-system.
- 25% increase in employees from the year 2017
- Over 25 schools participated in our education program at our Ocean Sole HQ in Nairobi
- More than 22,000 hot meals served
- Conducted monthly beach cleanups across Kenya
- 14 sets of curtains made from the women of Kiwayu, an island off Lamu. This one order is 2 peoples income on the island over a WHOLE year.
- Matched 100% of what our employees save to our welfare program which allows our employees to meet school fees needs.
- Started our new Foundation in the UK
- Over 15% of our profits given to coastal community programmes for impact
Events and press:
- 3 viral videos – 120Â million 60 sec doc, Yahoo 3.3M views million views, business insider1.3 million views
- Over 50 Press interviews, media articles and content features
- Attended the  Canadian National Exhibition in Canada, with two Ocean Sole Artist and Joe from sales.
- Attended Drap Art in Spain, with live demonstrations from Jonathan, one of our head artists and Joe – our Ocean Sole representative
- Attended Blue Economy conference in Nairobi
Other fun stuff:
- 30 music therapy sessions with all employees
- 30 + dog bed and cat beds donated to KSPCA
- Creation of our Ocean Sole power boards –anything made in wood can be done in our recycled boards.
- Launched our Ocean Sole Africa Football team which includes football played every lunch with 22 employees and matches on the weekend!
- Collaborated with well known Kenyan designer Jimil Waljil on “Blue Fashion” event at the  Blue Economy Conference.
- Successful partnership with SeaStar beachwear – 167 pairs of shoes donated – 50kg of trash collected in one morning. Sea Star will launch the Ocean Sole inspired shoe this summer – watch this space!
What are we going to do in 2019?
⢠Open two charity entities for tax benefits in the UK and USA.
⢠We are going to America to sell directly to our customers and overcome our shipping hurdles!
â˘Â Open up a new FACTORY in Guatemala!
⢠Launch our merchandise – Ocean Sole cool vibe designed clothing, hats, etc.
⢠Conduct charity events to raise money for some of our impact programmes and machinery we need.
â˘Start an art studio in Kilifi, in Kenya to work with coastal artists.
⢠Launch our merchandise – Ocean Sole cool vibe designed clothing, hats, etc.
⢠Conduct charity events to raise money for some of our impact programmes and machinery we need.
â˘Start an art studio in Kilifi, in Kenya to work with coastal artists.
But most of all have MORE fun and provide more employment!!!
Thank you for your continuous support & we cannot wait for another year of working together!
#FlipTheFlop