We were lucky to catch up with Isa Zapata recently and have shared our conversation below.

Isa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What was it like going from idea to execution? Can you share some of the backstory and some of the major steps or milestones?

When I got the idea for Soulmatescollection I felt it in my heart; it was like an explosion of ideas; “Shoes where you can wear your soulmate”. For the first pair, I made a DIY espadrille I purchase in Hobby lobby. In my DIY espadrilles, I put my husband’s artwork on the right shoe and mine on the left. When I put them on, I clearly saw a Soulmates Collection.
One of the first things I’ve created was the brand visuals and story. Then came the most challenging part: making a scalable prototype. I searched for manufacturers in the US, and the prices were astronomical for just a prototype. Then I started looking for manufacturers in my native Colombia. I thought this would be easy but sadly, no. It took me months to find viable manufacturers. It was unfortunate knowing that many shoe shops had gone out of business; I’ve met very talented shoemakers doing uber or any other jobs because shoemaking wasn’t profitable anymore. Due to the low prices of mass-produced goods, most small shops were left out in the cold. Knowing that now more than ever, I wanted soulmates to be part of the solution. So, I decided that my brand would work only with small businesses, and we would run under the sustainable made-to-order business model. After an extensive search, I finally found my production partners. A small family-run shop with high values and impeccable craftmanship was the perfect fit. We worked on a prototype and developed the suitable materials for months; it was a trial and error until our first batch of Soulmates finally came to life. Seeing our signature colorful shoes for the first time brought tears to my eyes. It was a massive step for me. Then came the next chapter, the website creation, which was also very challenging.

We’ve designed an app that would easily allow clients to personalize their shoes. With the help of a group of talented coders, I personally created a custom app just for Soulmatescollection. While the app was in production, I used that time to build our artwork character portfolio for the site galleries.
I painted more than 200 characters, dogs, humans, and cats in about two months. Finally, the site and production team was ready and were able to launch. But before taking that big step, I wanted to make sure our foundation was strong. So, we did a beta launch with friends and family; that way, we could hear firsthand reactions of the shoes, the ordering process, etc. Once we fixed the issues we encountered, we were ready to release the site to the public.
Since then, we have had organic growth; we’ve created shoes for Anna Faris, Marc Anthony, Sharon Stone, and other celebrities in the first year after launching. We’ve had our ups and downs, and I almost had to let Soulmates go during the pandemic. But things worked out, and now we are back and stronger than ever. This is a one-woman show; I wear all the business hats; I manage the design, social media, customer service, and pre-production. I’m grateful to have a very supportive production team in Colombia, ready to grow with me wherever life takes us!

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Soulmate’s concept is aligned with my artistic mission: making art and products that awaken joy and positively impact the world.
With this in mind, I’ve created Soulmates to deliver a positive impact with:
Our clients: provide a unique design that awakens feelings of joy with a durable, washable, and sustainable product made with high standards of craftsmanship that will last for years to come.
Our planet: by creating Soulmates as a made-to-order brand, we encourage our clients to make a positive impact while achieving conscious consumerism. Slow fashion products that will last for years and conscious consumerism are part of the solution that aims for a healthy planet.
Our animals: As a dog mom I use my platform to be a voice of the voiceless. By using animal-free materials in our shoes. And by donating 10% of the profits of each sale to homeless senior dogs directly and through local rescues.
Our community: We strive to build a community where we can collaborate and grow together. Since the beginning of Soulmates, we have been working only with artisans and small businesses.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

Most of my biggest clients come from local media. Some people may see our IG but then start a conversation by email. We offer a one-on-one design consultation making each order very personal. That’s one of the reasons we get a lot of referrals from our existing clients. Our mailing list is our biggest seller; people on the list already have a connection with the brand. We take a holistic approach to client acquisition; by being on SM, giving white glove customer service, being on the top of mind with emails, and validating our brand in local publications.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I left my 9 to 5 job and decided to become a full-time artist and illustrator. I pushed myself to think outside the box. I had savings to cover my basic expenses for six months, so I gave myself three months to make something happen with my art. I had no plan b, which would help me get up at 6 am to start my day, send emails and postcards, and visit stores and galleries to offer my paintings and goods. It was hard for me to just walk into a store and introduce myself, but I knew I had to do it; I had no other option. I was always out promoting my art. Then I got my first interview, a whole page on the Miami Herald Saturday issue. This exposure led to more than 50 interviews on TV channels, magazines, and online and print newspapers such as The Huffington Post, CNNE, NBC6, and Univision. I was a self-taught artist selling my original art in local galleries, illustrating in kids’ magazines and books while creating unique products that coincided with my philanthropic causes. After a year of jumping into the unknown, I sold my creations in three local shops, licensed my art, and produced pop-ups and private shows. Sometimes having a plan B lets us stay in our comfort zone; the magic happens when we follow our intuition and flow with it.

Contact Info:

• Website: soulmatescollection.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/soulmatescollection
• Facebook: facebook.com/soulmatescollection
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/soulmatescollection
• Twitter: twitter.com/soulmatesshoes
• Other: vimeo.com/soulmatescollection

Image Credits
Pic of the two labs by client: @achillesandolaf Studio pics by Paola Paladini