How do these shoes do good and give back?
When starting this business, I decided to make sure we "source right." That means that I make sure to look at a number of factors besides just price when selecting our suppliers and materials. The main things I look for in suppliers are ethical treatment of workers/members, fair pay, passion for their craft, expertise and quality of workmanship. For example, our principal supplier is a village cooperative in India comprised of second and third generation shoe-making artisans. The cooperative was set up by an Indian NGO and uses a microcredit style model to ensure artisans are paid fairly and can "break the cycle of poverty." The cooperative also helps the artisans to build valuable business/entrepreneurial skills.

These shoes are clearly beautiful and have a style all their own. But what else makes them unique?
It's a combination of the materials and the people who make them. The main material in each pair of mohinders is leather. We use two different types of leather (both full-grain), and each has its own story.

Our men's and women's city slippers are made with bag-tanned water buffalo leather. This is leather that is tanned by hand in artisans' front-yards-turned-tanneries using only vegetable tannins. This intricate tanning method has been used in villages in India for centuries. And at a pure fashion level, what makes them unique is their versatility. You can wear mohinders pretty much any time anywhere!

What made you want to do shoes in particular?
Consciously, nothing. This all seemed to happen organically. Subconsciously, both my grandfather and my father were in the shoe business. So, who knows!?

What is your favorite cause to support (or organization, aside from your own?)
I love supporting any brand that has found a way to "source right" and still create a superior quality product compared to what's out there. Yellow Leaf Hammocks is a great example of this! I've also had a lot of fun volunteering for Teens Turning Green, a bay area based non-profit that my wife is involved with.

Do you have a favorite inspiring quote?
Never really loved a quote until I read this one: "Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." - Albert Einstein