Most animal lovers prove their fealty by either going vegetarian or volunteering with PETA in order to make the world a better place for our fellow beings. Devika Bapna, however, has truly raised the bar. How? ‘Kanabis’, her footwear start-up is making waves around the country for offering a fashionable range of shoes that is, in entirety, animal friendly!
Bapna used to work as a CA in London, but after volunteering at PETA, decided to switch careers, and launch her own line of footwear – but with one big difference: no leather. Bapna wanted to make affordable, good quality and fashionable shoes that was cruelty free, and thus ‘Kanabis’, India’s first of its kind fashionable PETA approved vegan brand of footwear, was launched in 2015.
Where did the name come from? It’s a play on the word on the word ‘cannabis’ as the company uses canvas instead of leather for their shoes, and ‘canvas’ is derived from the Arabic word for cannabis.
The company has gone from strength to strength over the past two years. “Awareness for vegan fashion is slowly but surely increasing,” Bapna says. “There is a rise in customer consciousness that is changing their choices.
We often hear from our customers that they are so happy to have discovered a fashionable non-leather brand. Now we keep seeing repeat visitors and customers, which is extremely encouraging.” Indeed, when the team sold their 1000th pair within,the first 6 months, it was a special achievement.
This is no mean feat for Bapna and her small team who regularly launch new styles of wedges, boots, espadrilles and sneakers, and tackle everything from design to logistics. In fact, if you happen to call or email customer care, the chances are that Bapna herself will be addressing the issue.
So, if you’re too attached to chicken biriyani or McBurgers but still want to help create a world free from the exploitation of animals, slip on a pair of Kanabis shoes instead, and know that you’re taking a step in the right direction.
For more information or to browse the latest collection, visit the Kanabis website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for updates.
Written by Priya Unni
Featured image source: Kanabis
