Nisolo

Maker

About

Nisolo is a Nashville-based footwear and accessories company founded in 2011 by Patrick Woodyard, Zoe Cleary, and Nick Meyer. The company operates as a certified B Corporation, manufacturing handmade leather goods in Peru and Kenya. The name derives from Spanish, meaning "not alone," reflecting the company's mission to connect skilled artisans in developing regions with global consumers while providing ethical wages and working conditions.

History

Founding

Patrick Woodyard discovered the concept for Nisolo while working in microfinance in northern Peru. During a visit to entrepreneur Doris's home in the impoverished community of Wichanzao, he encountered her husband William handcrafting high-quality leather shoes despite their family's financial struggles. This experience revealed a community of skilled shoemakers in Trujillo who lacked access to global markets for their craftsmanship.

In 2011, Woodyard partnered with Zoe Cleary, who brought fashion industry expertise, and Nick Meyer, a 2004 TCU graduate with experience from the BNSF Next Generation Leadership Program. Together they established Nisolo in Nashville, Tennessee, initially working with thirty artisan shoemakers in Peru. The company began operations in Wichanzao, providing consistent work to previously underemployed craftspeople.

Growth and Expansion

By 2016, Nisolo had achieved consistent year-over-year growth exceeding 100% since inception. The company expanded its operations to include manufacturing facilities in Kenya alongside its Peru operations. During this period, Nisolo employed 20 staff members in the United States, 60 in Peru, and 10 in Kenya, supporting the livelihoods of over 300 individuals across three countries.

The company's growth earned recognition through several awards, including the Global Innovation Summit Ecosystem Award in 2015, SOCAP Featured Social Entrepreneur in 2012 and 2014, and fellowships from the Unreasonable Institute and Agora Partnerships in 2013. Co-founder Patrick Woodyard received recognition as a Forbes 30 Under 30 Social Entrepreneur in 2016.

Manufacturing

Nisolo manufactures all products through handmade craftsmanship at facilities in Trujillo, Peru, and Kenya. The Trujillo facility serves as the primary manufacturing location, where artisan shoemakers produce the company's footwear using traditional leatherworking techniques. All products are handcrafted rather than mass-produced, maintaining the artisanal quality that originally inspired the company's founding.

The manufacturing approach emphasizes direct relationships with craftspeople rather than outsourcing to third-party factories. This model allows Nisolo to directly implement ethical labor practices and monitor working conditions throughout production.

Business Model

Nisolo operates as a certified B Corporation using a direct-to-consumer business model. Rather than adopting donation-based or charity approaches common in social enterprises, Nisolo integrates social impact directly into its sourcing and manufacturing practices. This ensures that ethical practices remain consistent regardless of company scale or profitability.

The company's commitment to ethical production includes providing workers with benefits uncommon in the footwear industry. Workers throughout the supply chain receive paid time off, healthcare, access to savings and loan programs, and weekly educational courses covering health, nutrition, English, and financial literacy.

Worker Impact

Nisolo's business model has demonstrated measurable economic impact on its workforce. Workers experienced an average 161% income increase after joining Nisolo operations, with women workers seeing a 126% increase and the overall workforce averaging 85% annual income growth. After three years of employment, 83% of producers have established savings, and 100% have bank accounts.

The income improvements have extended to workers' families, with 100% of producers' children attending school and all university-bound children becoming first-generation college graduates. One producer who initially lacked a roof for their home was able to afford housing improvements through Nisolo employment.

Products

Nisolo produces leather footwear and accessories designed with what the company describes as a "laid-back California-inspired" aesthetic. The product line includes boots, sneakers, wedges, and leather goods, with all items constructed from leather sourced through the company's supply chain. The company emphasizes accessible pricing while maintaining ethical production standards, seeking to prove that "affordable, ethically produced, beautiful, high-quality fashion is possible."