"BANGS is a social enterprise that connects an ideology to a specific style of shoes", says Hannah Davis when asked about her company BANGS Shoes. Hannah Davis founded BANGS Shoes in July 2010 with a mission of helping others help themselves. When you purchase a pair of BANGS, not only will your feet thank you, but entrepreneurs around the world will thank you as well. Bangs means help in Mandrin, and that is exactly what Hannah Davis, founder of BANGS Shoes, set out to do when launching her company.
The model behind BANGS helps people start businesses in the U.S. and around the world. They have built their business to invest 20% of their net profits into other people with business ideas of their own. Every month, BANGS hand-selects entrepreneurs to invest in through their non-profit partner, Kiva. Kiva is a non-profit organization that allows people to lend money via the Internet to low income entrepreneurs to help alleviate poverty. Through this organization, the entrepreneurs build their business and then repay their loans back to the lender. 99% of the loans BANGS gives through Kiva are repaid. The idea behind this organization is to teach a man how to fish vs. giving a man a fish. Once the loan is repaid to BANGS, that loan goes to re-invest in another entrepreneur, on top of the 20% of that month's net profit. Over time, one loan can cycle and help countless people begin businesses. Building up these entrepreneurs enables them in return to help others, creating an endless cycle of help.
When you buy a pair BANGS, not only are you investing in a company that does so much good, but you are also buying your new favorite pair of shoes. BANGS come in many colors and styles, including high-tops, low-tops, and slip-ons. They look like a cross between converse and vans, but are much comfier. BANGS range in price from 45-$60 and are worth every cent. These shoes were made for adventures, and every time you put them on that is what you will want to do. BANGS creates a community of adventurers and they share their adventure on social media using the hashtag #liveBANGS.
If you haven't already been convinced and headed over to BANGS Shoes to order your new favorite pair of shoes, check out their TEDx to learn more about how BANGS came to be.
Make sure to follow their adventures on Instagram!
