We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Rebecca Gradler a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Rebecca, thanks for joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

I fell in love with both shoes and Greece at an early age. My father was born there and one of the few in his large family who emigrated. He took my sister and me back at every opportunity he had. As the “American cousins”, we would receive the warmest welcome from the moment we landed. Greeted by fragrant gardenias and a family expectantly waiting for us, we would step off the plane and enter a whole new world of beauty, love and simple pleasures.

A ritual began where every visit included a day of shoe shopping. I was thrilled because I knew I would find amazing styles that no one else would have when I arrived back in America. I would bring back a little bit of Greece, but sadly I would leave a part of my heart behind. I knew one day I wanted to share the beautiful treasures Greece has to offer to the US and beyond. Shoes have always been my favorite thing in my closet. I decided to reignite that family tradition, but this time with my own creation that combined my Greek heritage with my love for the entrepreneurial spirit so embedded in America. The other part of the story is one I hold dear to my heart, and that is my Greek family. Kheloni embodies all those things I cherish most in life.

Rebecca, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Kheloni is more than just a boutique brand. We span several generations and continents, but despite vast time and distance, we share something priceless… our roots. We knew Greece offered more than gorgeous scenery, incredible history and amazing food. We knew that Greece is where fashionable footwear all began. In fact, there were many elaborate designs worn by the wealthy and the famous in Ancient Greek times. At Kheloni, we bring back this rich history by creating modern casual-luxury footwear with centuries old craftsmanship that still exists today.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

Thomas Peters’ book “In Search of Excellence” is something that has definitely been an influence. In particular, reminding yourself to have a “bias for action”. In short, make decisions with imperfect information and before you’re comfortable making them.

We’d really appreciate if you could talk to us about how you figured out the manufacturing process.

Our products are handmade in Greece, where my father was born. Part of why I started the business was to help the economy there and celebrate my heritage. When people think of great shoes they think of France or Italy, not Greece. I’m doing my part to change that.

When I started looking into doing this I, of course, reached out to my Greek relatives. To my surprise, one of my cousins had recently made her first shoe and had a shoemaker that was close to my family. So close that his son married another one of my cousins. This was such an unlikely and unexpected alignment of the stars.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kheloni.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kheloni_official/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelittlegreeksandal
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/lilgreeksandal

Image Credits
Rebecca Gradler