We say this all the time, but Saysh is a small family owned business and when we embarked on the journey of creating Saysh, we never imagined the incredible partnerships and collaborations that would come our way. One of those opportunities arose when Wes was approached by Desiree, the North American CEO of ba&sh, along with the global CEO of ba&sh, Pierre-Arnaud. They requested a meeting to discuss a potential partnership, and we felt truly honored and excited that they had taken notice of what we are building.
From the moment the three of us sat down, alongside our head of partnerships, Lauren, the product designer Claire, and the ba&sh VP of Marketing, Isabel, we began to dream up what could be possible. The energy in the room was palpable as we envisioned a product that would merge the best of both brands, focusing on what we have always believed in: creating shoes that truly cater to women.
We wanted to create something that was not only on trend but specifically designed for a woman's body. As we brainstormed, we asked ourselves, "If shoes were made based on women's bodies in the 70s or 90s, what would they have looked like?" It’s a fascinating question because, historically, women's specific shoes weren't made in those decades. Back then, the "shrink it and pink it" approach dominated the industry, with most women's shoes simply being smaller versions of men's designs.
This trend has persisted, and we see it even today with the popularity of shoes like the Adidas Samba, New Balance 550, and Air Force One—all originally men's sports shoes now embraced by women. We realized there was a cultural obsession with vintage styles, yet these shoes weren’t designed with women in mind. This insight fueled our passion to create something trendy and stylish, yet fundamentally engineered for a woman’s foot.
With Claire leading the design, we embarked on creating a shoe that would capture the essence of vintage cool while addressing the anatomical needs of women. Claire did an incredible job bringing this vision to life. Her design perfectly balanced style and functionality, delivering a product that not only met but exceeded our expectations.
Once the product was finalized and the teams signed off on it, it was time to bring it to life through a photoshoot. Allyson, who was eight months pregnant at the time, knew exactly who to call. Our dear friend, Djeneba Aduayom, is an extraordinary photographer, and her ability to capture the essence of our vision was unparalleled. The photoshoot was an incredible experience, and the results were stunning.
The result of this collaboration is not just a beautiful product but a testament to the power of family and teamwork. It’s about a journey that brought together passionate individuals from different walks of life, united by a shared goal to create something exceptional. This campaign is a celebration of that journey, showcasing a product that is not only beautiful but also a perfect representation of what Saysh stands for.
We are incredibly proud of this collaboration with ba&sh and the product we have created together. It's a true embodiment of our mission to serve women better, crafted by a team dedicated to excellence. We can't wait for you to experience SABA. We are all Born to Move.
