We work with cooperatives of ethnic minority craftswomen who weave traditional handmade patterns that are then applied to our products.We favour eco-responsible materials, ensuring that our production is as environmentally friendly as possible.
We also donate 2% of our turnover to an association that builds schools in marginalized areas of Vietnam. Since our creation, we have financed the construction of 4 schools and are in the process of opening a 5th one in 2022.
To commit to N’go is to affirm a style of commitment to current and future generations.
2. Founder’s/Owner’s story and what motivated them to start the business
These two friends met at school when they were 15 years old. So both sports and fashion fans, over the years they discover a common attraction for travel and fall in love with the traditional craftsmanship of these distant lands.
Their various trips lead them to meet Vietnamese weavers who explain to them the complexity of making a living from this ancestral art. Often excluded from Vietnamese civil society, they encounter difficulties in selling their fabrics: language barrier, markets difficult to integrate, unfair purchase prices, etc.
Faced with this alarming observation, these two adventurers founded N’go, sneakers and backpacks adorned with these ancestral Vietnamese weavings, in homage to the rich and colorful culture.
It was in February 2016, during the meeting of these two childhood friends, that the idea of a unique Franco-Vietnamese sneaker, made in a traditional way, was born. This is a way of proving that it’ s possible to produce in Vietnam, in a responsible way, in the respect of human and labour rights. It is also a tribute that Ronan pays to the country that has always welcomed him.
In order to bring the project to life, Ronan returns to his beloved country, Vietnam, to meet craftswomen who are keeping their ancestral knowledge alive. He also establishes the first links with local partners.The idea is launched !
3. The challenges the business/market is facing
Our main challenges are becoming shoe makers and shoe sellers. When we started, we had no clue about how the fashion industry works (Kevin is executive accountant and Ronan is project manager in the development/humanitarian area). We had to learn day after day a new job, new skills, get experience and work in an international environment. It is the biggest challenge but also the most enriching for us !
Another challenge was to prove to everyone that we can make eco-friendly & high quality products in Vietnam, in line with our values: fair, transparency on the production process and social compliance with the workers and craftswomen.
Today, anyone can make sustainable shoes using recycled materials. But not everyone can collaborate with craftswomen to make a product combining Western sneakers style with traditional handcrafts coming from ethnic minorities. This is what makes N’go unique !
4. The opportunities the business/market is facing
The shoe & accessory markets are big and they are growing year after year. Even if we invite our community not to “over consume but to buy ONLY what they need”, we know wearing shoes and using accessories is mandatory. People are not able to walk on the street with no shoes or if so, it is not recommended at all. Then we are not creating a demand, we are answering it, in a more sustainable & fair way !
From the product idea to the end customer, all is well thought to have the best social & environmental impact. We do not want to only design & manufacture fashion products but we want them to have an impact: the highest for social workers and children going to school and the lowest for the environment because we are fully conscious the fashion industry has a negative impact on earth.
Taking this into consideration, we know that our current and future generations are questioning themselves about what they are buying: Why, Who made it, Where and How? This reflection is a PLUS for a brand like ours that puts ECO CONCEPTION, FAIRNESS and SOLIDARITY as a priority number 1. Each day, customers come to us and tell us that they chose to wear our brand because they believe we aim to always do “better” and that we are transparent on what we do well and what we need to improve. We want to inspire people !
Another opportunity is our wish to be an international & universal brand. Passionated by our experiences in foreign countries, our trips & studies abroad, we want this to be reflected on our brand. We are a team that is young, open minded and we have big ambitions. N’go is not only for Vietnamese & French people but to anyone that wants to contribute to a better world. It does not matter where you are from, what language you speak, what is your religion, race, sexual orientation…This is why we cross frontiers and want to be known worldwide.
5. Advice to others about business
If I had advice to give to others about business, it would be to never give up. Impossible does not exist. We all have dreams and we should do our best to make them real. Of course it is not easy, it requires time, experience, sacrifices etc. but I think it is worth it. And if we do not achieve our goals, at least we would have tried, it is not the end. Learning is a long process and sometimes it takes longer than what we originally thought. The most important thing is being in line with what we think is the best for us !
