Developing your own line of hemp shoes is no easy feat. Starting a DTC brand is hard enough; overcoming the stigma attached to Cannabis only adds to the challenge.
But for Bernardo Carreira, founder and CEO of 8000Kicks, these were challenges he was eager to tackle head-on.
In this episode of The Checkout, Bernardo walks our host, Adii Pienaar, through his brand’s journey to becoming the world’s first waterproof hemp shoes.
Tune in to learn:
““One thing that they need to nail really well is marketing. They need to know their customers very well and how to reach them efficiently. It's not easy to come in and be profitable if you don't nail this completely well.”- Bernardo Carreira, founder & CEO at 8000Kicks
Bernardo Carreira is the founder and CEO of 8000Kicks. After working in London as a PR manager for OpenSignal, he went home to Portugal to start a new business.
A conversation with his friends led to the idea for 8000Kicks. His grandmother Otilia, a textile expert with 50+ years of experience, would help him make it a reality.
Since then, Otilia and Bernardo have created a new product category that has helped transform the footwear industry.
Connect with Bernardo on LinkedIn
8,000Kicks is the world’s first brand to sell waterproof hemp shoes.
Considered the “sober cousin” of Cannabis, hemp has been used as a textile since 8000 BC. The material has minimal amounts of psychoactive components, so it is legal everywhere in the world.
But why hemp? For starters, it’s more durable than cotton, polyester, and nylon. But it’s also more ecological — needing no fertilizers, less water, and emitting 72% less CO2 during production.
Since 8000Kicks’ launch in 2020, the sneaker brand has expanded into other hemp-based accessories, including backpacks, wallets, and laptop cases.
Learn more about 8000Kicks on: LinkedIn | Website
In this episode, Bernardo walks us through 8000Kick’s journey from start to finish. Here are the highlights: