While most of us work minimum wage college jobs, Allie Wright is shipping off her latest pair of homemade “kicks” across the U.S. This ISU junior food, nutrition, and dietetics major is not your average student. Managing her own company, Allie has gained fame by designing unique shoes for women, men, and kids. She told us her story and how Her Campus readers can score a pair of these shoes for a cheaper price.
HC: We’ve heard about your shoe company. Tell us about it!
Wright: My company is called Allie Bolton Kicks and I sell hand-designed shoes for men, women, and children. The inspiration for my business name came from my grandma whose maiden name is Bolton, which also happens to be my middle name. My grandma was very creative and talented, so it’s special to be carrying on her name in this way. I design each shoe based on either my own inspiration or from customers’ unique requests.
HC: How did you start it and what influenced you?
Wright: I got my start from one of my best friends who asked me to “draw something on her plain white shoes”. She was thrilled with the end results so I decided to put a picture of them up on Facebook. I got such an overwhelming amount of positive feedback that I designed a pair for myself. People started asking me to make them a pair and soon orders were pouring in. I’ll never forget the time while traveling back to school on the train when a woman asked if she could buy the pair off my feet for her daughter! That’s when I decided to formalize it into a business.
I then created a listing on Etsy.com, a website where you can buy and sell handmade items. I have since designed and shipped my shoes to customers across the country, ranging all the way from California to Virginia. My original shoes were very abstract colorful shapes and designs, but never the same for each shoe. Now I’ve expanded into taking custom design orders, giving my customers a chance to express themselves through their own unique pair. My designs have included The Beatles, Chicago Blackhawks, Mickey and Minnie Mouse, sororities and fraternities, and even pairs for ISU Homecoming, along with many more.
HC: What’s it like to see people wearing your shoes?
Wright: Seeing people walking around on the quad wearing shoes that I made is beyond flattering. My favorite part of my business is seeing the reaction that I get from the customers when they see their shoes, and knowing that they got a finished product that was better than what they had imagined.
HC: What are your future goals for your company?
Wright: I’d like to reach more customers by selling my shoes at hometown art fairs and other creative venues. More importantly, I’d like to donate a percentage of profits to the American Cancer Society in honor of my grandma who lost her battle with lung cancer. It would be amazing to know that I was helping to “kick cancer” just by doing something I love.
HC: How can we get our hands on your awesome shoes?
Wright: My page on Facebook is the best way to contact me for a pair, either by writing on the wall or messaging my profile. The womens shoes are $45 and mens are $55. My page can be found at www.facebook.com/allieboltonkicks. Become another Allie Bolton Kicks fan!
HC ISU READERS:
Mention this article when ordering a pair of Allie Bolton Kicks and receive $5 off your first pair!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Illinois State chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.