Funky Kalakar Private Limited

Taking a fashionable and eco-forward step towards a better future In 2013, we found ourselves stumbling upon a unique idea – taking a fashionable and eco-forward step towards a better future by creating stylish and comfortable footwear using old, discarded tyres. We dedicated our efforts towards fulfilling this purpose, and thus our labour of love, Paaduks was born. We have forayed into upcycling cork as well, and together, with locally and ethically-sourced raw materials – jute, cotton, and more – we create uniquely comfortable and sustainably stylish footwear. Our design masterminds The major tour de force behind Paaduks are the cobblers of Kurla. Exploited by retailers and wholesalers these shoemakers are forced into a vicious cycle of debt, given their socio-economic realities. At Paaduks, we have made the conscious choice of addressing their issues and duly reward them for their talent and ingenuity, so they become financially capable of establishing a prosperous community of their own. Which is why we adhere to the guidelines of agreed FAIRTRADE standards. The Ethico Connection Paaduks was co-founded by Jay and Jothsna Rege, who took a simple idea and converted it into an ambitious project combining eco-fashion, comfort and sustainability, and is currently managed by Nasim Mohammed, who joined the team in August 2015. The latest chapter in our journey has been our merger with Ethico India, a platform founded by Indranil Sengupta and Rabia Tewari, that educates, informs, and inspires people to make a shift towards conscious living. We continue our journey as Paaduks by Ethico, with a deeper, more meaningful focus on an environmentally-conscious and organic way of life. We hope you will walk with us, step by step, towards a sustainable future.