African shoe brand advances into Asia
27/11/2012
The company claims it is the first privately owned footwear business to open standalone stores in Taiwan after the first opened in Kaoshiung earlier this month, with a third earmarked for Pingtung City before the end of the year. Twenty-eight more are planned in the country in the next three years.
Company founder Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu has seen remarkable success, from founding the company to bring jobs to her community in Addis Ababa in 2006, to this year speaking at the World Economic Forum and being named one of Africa’s most successful women by US publication Forbes.
She said: “We are extremely excited to open a soleRebels store in the heart of Taichung. The city is incredible, a must-go tourism destination in Taiwan. The crowds in the area where we are located are fantastic. Additionally, Taichung is a footwear epicentre; it is probably one of the most visited and watched footwear hubs in Asia.”
SoleRebels is currently negotiating franchising deals to open standalone stores in a number of countries including Singapore, Malaysia and Brazil.
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