Not Just For Kicks

Wesley Vos Uses His Sneaker And Apparel Brand To Give Back To Kids In Need. Here’s How He Sized Up A Global Problem, And Stepped Towards It – With Purpose.

- Thaaqib Daniels

Whether you’re completing a stylish outfit with a pair of sneakers, shining your classiest pair of loafers for a business meeting or lacing up your trainers for a morning jog, footwear is an everyday part of most people’s lives.

It’s also big business. Brands have poured major funds into collabs with athletes and celebs in order to widen their audience and increase their market share.

There are some brands, however, that walk a different line when it comes to making a profit – the ones that aim to give back to those who have less. VOSK shoes is one. Founder Wesley Vos has dedicated his local brand to making a difference.

BODY, MIND & SOLE “With every pair of VOSK sneakers purchased, we give a new pair of shoes to a child in need. That’s our philosophy,” says Vos. After studying marketing at Stellenbosch University, the now-31-year-old entrepreneur decided to create a business with a greater purpose.

“Working for a ‘boss’ never sat right with me. I knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur, but I never knew what my business would be,” he admits. “I stumbled on the concept of leveraging a profitable business to improve the lives of less fortunate people – the ‘buy one, give one’ concept.”

The next step was settling on a product. Wesley’s desire to give back and his love for sneakers became the driving force behind VOSK. “I chose shoes. Who doesn’t love shoes?”

It was the fulfilment of a longstanding dream to do good in the world. “I vividly remember watching TV in 2004 after the tsunami hit South-East Asia. The devastation brought tears to my eyes,” he recalls. “I felt utterly helpless, and all I wanted to do was help. That feeling never really went away.”