Why Africa?

When we first shared the idea of manufacturing our footwear in Africa, many asked: Why? Why or how could anyone want to make shoes in a place full of so much poverty and corruption?

The answer is simple: We never have and still don't see an Africa that's categorised by negative generalizations. Oliberté believes that with the right partners, each country within Africa has the means to grow and support its people. So that's what we do – Oliberté partners with factories, suppliers, farmers and workers to produce premium footwear in Africa, but we do more than that. We work to create fair jobs, with the goal of contributing to the development of a thriving middle class.

It is generally accepted that a thriving middle class is a key component to the success of any country. In Africa, the middle class is increasing in size, and one of Oliberté's goals is to support that growing middle class by building a world class footwear brand that can create thousands of jobs and encourages manufacturers from other industries to work in Africa.

Currently, Oliberté's main operation and factory is in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We also source materials and components from Kenya, South Africa, Mauritius and Liberia, and we continue to look for new partners in more countries in Africa.