

Today we’d like to introduce you to Danielle Anderson.
Hi Danielle, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
My best friend and I just started our own sandal company. Having both grown up in Florida, we lived in sandals. After I moved to New York City post-college, I realized that I was constantly staring at the sea of shoes walking and was curious about the choices people made and the stories those shoes would tell if they could talk. I always had my eye out for a pair of comfortable go-to sandals that were well-made, affordable, and stylish, but I was never ever able to find a pair that checks off all the boxes.
In 2018, I stumbled upon a shoe-making space and immediately walked in and signed up for a sandal-making course. There I learned the ins and outs of how to create and develop my very own sandal. One that would fill my needs but would also be versatile enough to appeal to others.
That very next week, I teamed up with my co-founder, Courtney, and we went to work designing our perfect prototype. After several rounds of revisions and plenty of trial and error, we nailed the casual yet chic sandal of our dreams. Thus, walk with dada was born, and four years later, our convertible sandal, the dada original is now for sale.
We are a women-owned company selling directly through our website at www.walkwithdada.com.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Since this was our first sandal design and our first time producing anything beyond samples, finding a factory that felt like the right fit was challenging. We’d spent years perfecting our design, so we had very high expectations for what we wanted in a factory. We eventually connected with a small privately owned, ethically run factory in Vietnam to produce our first wide-scale production round of dada originals.
Also, since we’re totally self-funded, keeping an eye on our expenses is a constant challenge. We’re always trying to maximize what we spend to yield the best results. It’s been a great learning experience as we continue to grow.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I worked in fashion for many years, from traditional, contemporary designers to designing men’s bespoke suits at a custom clothier. I’m currently the head of sales at Level Frames, an online framing company. On nights and weekends, I focus my creativity and passion on our new sandal line, walk with dada.
One of the things I am most proud of is launching this brand. Having been interested in fashion since I was a little girl and having worked in the industry, creating my own shoe has always been a dream of mine. It’s been so amazing to see it come to life and see our sandals on feet near and far.
One of the main things that set me apart from others is my ability to stay cool and calm under pressure and keep moving forward.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
This is still a work in progress for me. Since launch, I have been much more confident and excited to network. I’ve made a real effort to reach out to mentors and friends of friends to schedule calls to get people’s advice on all aspects of starting an online business. We are learning more about our business every day and I am always open to anyone that has advice to give. It’s an honor to listen and learn from others, and I look forward to continuing to connect even more as we grow in the Atlanta community.
Pricing:
- Retail Price $145
Contact Info:
- Website: www.walkwithdada.com
- Wholesale: sales@walkwithdada.com
- Instagram: @walkwithdada
- Facebook: @walkwithdada
- Other: tiktok @walkwithdada
Image Credits
Photography by Alex Mandujano