Vietnam-based FASHION 4 FREEDOM is a company that connects designers and artisans to build product supply chains. Founded by female CEO LanVy Nguyen, the company aims to harness the power of design to preserve Vietnam's traditional crafts and artisans.

SAIGON SOCIALITE, a shoe brand operated within FASHION 4 FREEDOM, is currently garnering attention for its handmade heels with artisan-like soles. The intricately carved soles are carved from wood using a traditional Vietnamese technique called "pagoda," with each pair taking 18 to 22 days for skilled artisans to complete. The leather base that fits the sole is also meticulously attached by hand. Traditionally, the pagoda technique has been passed down from generation to generation, but the number of artisans has been declining in recent years. This project was conceived to ensure the technique remains relevant.

Fashion for Freedom's activities allow artisans to make profits by introducing them to new markets through fashion. The process they implement, from product planning to production, is said to be able to alleviate the low wages of hard laborers that arise from traditional mass production.

This article has been translated and written with permission from (Source: http://www.fashion4freedom.com/).