WHO IS BEHIND SAYE?
When Marta asked Lizzie and Damian to join Wado, back in February 2017, they didn’t think twice. At that time, it was just a newborn idea about an online sneakers’ brand that would plant trees for each sale and that would hopefully collect enough funds from Kickstarter to cover some of the first production costs. From that moment on, the three of them have been fully dedicated to the project dealing with suppliers, fixing and improving prototypes, preparing the Kickstarter campaign and eventually making the brand grow fast.
The Kickstarter campaign was a huge success and SAYE was finally launched in March 2018 under a different name, Wado. The first 7,000 pairs of sneakers were produced and they became the most funded Spanish fashion project ever on Kickstarter. One month later, in April 2018, they moved the project to Indiegogo and used the platform as an online sales channel for around 20 months. That period allowed them to expand the project and turn it into an actual company, currently employing more than 10 team members.
In December 2019 they closed their campaign on Indiegogo and set up their own ecommerce shop.
When Marta asked Lizzie and Damian to join Wado, back in February 2017, they didn’t think twice. At that time, it was just a newborn idea about an online sneakers’ brand that would plant trees for each sale and that would hopefully collect enough funds from Kickstarter to cover some of the first production costs. From that moment on, the three of them have been fully dedicated to the project dealing with suppliers, fixing and improving prototypes, preparing the Kickstarter campaign and eventually making the brand grow fast.
The Kickstarter campaign was a huge success and SAYE was finally launched in March 2018 under a different name, Wado. The first 7,000 pairs of sneakers were produced and they became the most funded Spanish fashion project ever on Kickstarter. One month later, in April 2018, they moved the project to Indiegogo and used the platform as an online sales channel for around 20 months. That period allowed them to expand the project and turn it into an actual company, currently employing more than 10 team members.
In December 2019 they closed their campaign on Indiegogo and set up their own ecommerce shop.
WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT THE NAME,
BUT THE SOUL, VALUES AND THE OVERALL PURPOSE
THAT DEFINES OUR BRAND.
WHAT MATTERS MOST IS NOT THE NAME, BUT THE SOUL, VALUES AND THE OVERALL PURPOSE THAT DEFINES OUR BRAND.
Our goal is to serve you with cool sneakers and clothing you’ll want to wear for years, while continuing to:
1. Become a zero-waste brand by using bio-based and recycled materials.
2. Fight for fair work conditions, producing only in certified factories.
3. Fight against deforestation while empowering forest-dependent communities, by funding the growth of 2 trees for each sale of sneakers.
Our goal is to serve you with cool sneakers and clothing you’ll want to wear for years, while continuing to:
1. Become a zero-waste brand by using bio-based and recycled materials.
2. Fight for fair work conditions, producing only in certified factories.
3. Fight against deforestation while empowering forest-dependent communities, by funding the growth of 2 trees for each sale of sneakers.
Our goal is to serve you with cool sneakers and clothing you’ll want to wear for years, while continuing to:
1. Become a zero-waste brand by using bio-based and recycled materials.
2. Fight for fair work conditions, producing only in certified factories.
3. Fight against deforestation while empowering forest-dependent communities, by funding the growth of 2 trees for each sale of sneakers.
Our goal is to serve you with cool sneakers and clothing you’ll want to wear for years, while continuing to:
1. Become a zero-waste brand by using bio-based and recycled materials.
2. Fight for fair work conditions, producing only in certified factories.
3. Fight against deforestation while empowering forest-dependent communities, by funding the growth of 2 trees for each sale of sneakers.
WHO WE ARE
MARTA LLAQUET
BARCELONA, SPAIN
CEO, Co-founder
ELIZABETH SABIN
BARCELONA, SPAIN
CMO, Co-founder
DAMIAN AUGUSTYNIAK
LODZ, POLAND
COO, Co-founder
JAVIER MÁIZ
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Product
CANDELA CIORDIA
Chêne-Bougeries, switzerland
People
KEVIN CARDONA
CARACAS, VENEZUELA
Digital Performance
AGUSTINA SPUCCIA
BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA
Customer Care
LUCA MOMPEAN
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Product
SOPHIA ÁLVAREZ
BARRANQUILLA, COLOMBIA
Customer Care
YASSIN SHAKER
CAIRO, EGYPT
Wholesale
MARIONA CALATHEA
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Marketing: Image & Communication
HELENA Boet
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Marketing: Content Strategist
ÀLEX BASALOBRE
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Marketing: Graphic Design
CINTIA VIZCAÍNO
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Product
PAULA ACEDO
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Wholesale
STEPHANIE LÓPEZ
GUADALAJARA, MEXICO
Operations
LLUIS Jiménez
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Digital Performance
Iga M. Kaminska
KRASNYSTAW, POLAND
Customer Care
CINTIA VIZCAÍNO
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Product
CINTIA VIZCAÍNO
BARCELONA, SPAIN
PRODUCT DESIGN
PAULA ACEDO
BARCELONA, SPAIN
Wholesale
CINTIA VIZCAÍNO
BARCELONA, SPAIN
PRODUCT DESIGN
Our history, step-by-step
- 2017
FEBRUARY
Idea was born. An online sneakers’ brand that would plant trees for each sale.
+ 2018
MARCH
We launched our campaign on Kickstarter.
APRIL
We started our campaign on Indiegogo.
We produced our first 7,000 pairs of sneakers.
MAY
We moved to an actual office, our first headquarters.
JUNE
We shipped to Kickstarter backers.
We planted our first 14,000 trees in India.
We hired our first intern, Pierre, who came straight forward from France.
JULY
Managing our first customer service crisis was a complete nightmare, but we hired Clàudia to help us solve it!
OCTOBER
We finally had recurrent stock in our warehouse and we were able to make daily deliveries via Indiegogo.
NOVEMBER
We hired Javi, our new product designer. We started thinking about launching new stuff!
DECEMBER
We improved our Modelo ’89 sneakers through introducing new organic and recycled materials from
Spanish suppliers.
+ 2019
JANUARY
Josu joined the team, we finally found our graphic designer!
FEBRUARY
Candela, our new customer service manager, came to help us!
MARCH
It’s been one year since the adventure started. 15,434 sneakers delivered to 67 countries and 30,868 trees planted in India and Zambia.
We did a rebranding and we changed our logo. We also started designing our next model of sneakers.
MAY
We were awarded one of the ‘100 Best Ideas of the Year’ by a Spanish magazine called ‘Actualidad Económica’.
JUNE
Anna, our new customer service assistant came in to help Candela!
JULY
We launched our first Fashion Film.
SEPTEMBER
The first vegan prototypes arrived at the office.
OCTOBER
Kevin joined the graphic design team to help us as we grew bigger.
NOVEMBER
We launched our own ecommerce!
DECEMBER
Wado becomes SAYE.
After 25,000 pairs of sneakers sold on Indiegogo, we closed the campaign to finally move to our own ecommerce within our website.
+ 2020
JANUARY
First month accomplished as SAYE. The transition went great!
FEBRUARY
Anna left the team to continue on her great journey so we hired Agustina, our new customer service assistant to help Candela handle all our customer requests.
MARCH
It’s been two years since our adventure started. 55,472 trees planted among India, Zambia, Australia and the Amazon.
We started working from home due to COVID-19.
APRIL
We introduced our new socks to our collection. They look amazing!
MAY
We created a new online channel called ‘Cultiva’ inside SAYE. We started to share books, documentaries and experiences of interest to the team.
JUNE
Luca joined the team as Product Manager to help us launch all the new ideas and items we had in our minds!
JULY
After one year of research and development we finally launched the ‘NOT JUST VEGAN’ collection.
AUGUST
We hired Sophia, our newest addition to the customer service team to help Candela & Agustina.
SEPTEMBER
This month was one of the most complicated for the customer service department. The problems we faced had caused a bottleneck in the average response to our clients. However, thanks to detecting these problems, we were able to address many other issues and find better solutions to optimize this department.
We hired Yassin to increase our wholesale store network, thanks to his help we reached to sell our SAYE sneakers in 29 stores worldwide.
We hired Mariona as an assistant to the image and communication department to improve and increase our engagement with the community.
OCTOBER
In an effort to reduce our environmental impact, we decided to avoid plastic bags. Instead, we are now using biodegradable mailer bags made from cornstarch.
NOVEMBER
We proudly launched our first clothing collection made of 100% organic cotton, using natural dyeing processes and packaging to bring the most sustainable garment to the market.
DECEMBER
We launched limited units of our Modelo '89 Vegan Mango, sneakers primarily made from recycled mango fruit —a bio-based vegan leather— and bamboo lining that make a significant impact on consumers, the industry and of course, the environment.
We launched our new website dedicated to wholesale stores.
+ 2021
JANUARY
We can hardly fit in our office anymore, so we have moved to a brighter and bigger one, and we will finally be able to have all the plants our co-founder Damian dreamed of!
FEBRUARY
After many months of research and work, we finally launched our second sneaker silhouette: The Modelo '95.
We hired Helena—our newest addition to the Marketing team—to help Lizzie & Mariona!
MARCH
Seeing that Tik tok is a very important social network among young people, we didn't want Saye to miss out on this community and our Marketing team is going to start generating our own content for our new TikTok profile.
We hired Àlex, our new Graphic Design Manager.
APRIL
On our path towards more and more and more sustainable products, we proudly expanded our catalog of vegan sneakers and we launched our Modelo ‘89 Vegan Colores collection and we broke all our sales records!
MAY
Saye started as an online brand but little by little our presence in physical stores is increasing. Due to the great demand over the last few months, we have had to expand the Wholesale department and Paula will start assisting our Wholesale Manager Yassin.
JUNE
Saye's reforestation project is still in progress almost three years later, reaching 150,000 planted trees. We expect to reach 200,000 by the end of the year and we still can't believe it!
Until now operation tasks were distributed among several members of the team. We have finally decided to professionalize this department by hiring our first Operations agent, Stephanie.
JULY
We have reduced working hours twice in the last few years without reducing salaries. Today we work 35 hours per week, well below the 40 hours mandatory in Spain.
We have also launched two important projects. A new sneaker: Model '89 Vegan Cactus-100% Vegan, made from Cactus, Corn, and Bamboo and our new Global website that allows us to simplify and ease the purchasing process for our customers all over the world.
Finally, since data has become an essential source of information for decision making, we have hired our first Digital Analyst, Lluís.
AUGUST
At Saye, the most important meeting is the Saye Monthly Update, where we do a monthly overview by department and where the whole company participates. To add a fun twist and test the team's knowledge, we have now introduced interactive games during the meeting where the winners always get a prize!
After a very complicated selection process that took a few months, we hired Iga, our newest addition to the Customer Care team.
SEPTEMBER
Since the start of the COVID pandemic, we have been remotely working most of the time, but now we have established an Office Day as a first step in our roadmap for team building events.
Also, after many customer requests, we have finally launched our 6 original Modelo ’89 colors in Vegan and we couldn't be happier!
NOVEMBER
We announced we are going full vegan!
When we started SAYE three years ago plastic-free vegan options were not available, that’s why we started producing our sneakers with leather. Over the years and after several collaborative projects with our suppliers, we’ve been able to test durable vegan bio-based materials.
That's why we have finally made the decision to stop producing leather products and start a new Not Just Vegan era.
March 2018
Wado’s Kickstarter - we produce our first 5.000 sneakers! The most funded Spanish company on the category of fashion ever.
April 2018
We move the project to Indiegogo and manage to turn it into a “real” e-commerce until Dec 2019!
Jan 2020
Wado becomes SAYE and Indiegogo is replaced by our current e-commerce platform, Shopify.
March 2020
Pandemic comes and lockdowns boost e-commerce sales, changing the buying habits of population for good. Home office in SAYE becomes a reality and makes the company more “techie”.
February 2021
We launch our second model, Modelo '95.
April 2021
The launch of the collection Vegan Colores boosts the company sales to all-time highs 🌱🚀
