Take a trip down memory lane with us as we look back and celebrate our two-year anniversary! Read about some of the behind-the-scenes events that have made up this blessed road. Of course, none wouldn't be possible without the support and encouragement from those who follow us.
// November 20, 2015
The idea was first presented at Taylor University's annual Shark Tank event. We pitched an idea for a shoe company called Sole Purpose but later rebranded to Sky Footwear while keeping the same mission.
// January 7, 2016
Here are some of the different shoe models we were considering in the midst of our rebranding. This also explains why we branded as Sky "Footwear" and have decided to keep that phrase with the potential of expanding one day.
// April 13, 2016
Torn between the two, we hit the streets of downtown Indianapolis to gather feedback. We used granola bars, water bottles, and backpacks as a way to interact with homeless individuals and have conversations that we hoped would bring direction.
// April 28, 2016
After some back and forth between shoes vs. socks, we finally cemented our decision as a sock company after receiving these three samples.
// August 10, 2016
Here is a glimpse of what the day looked like when 10,000 socks arrived at the Indianapolis Airport. We hauled the shipment back to Bloomington in a horse trailer. Yes, you read that right.
// August 20, 2016
After spending nearly a year in the ideation/concept stage, we officially launched Sky Footwear. I'll forever remember the day Eric & I were glued to our phones for nearly 24 hours having no idea how the day would go.
// September 1, 2016
As we moved back to school in the fall, our socks moved with us. We stuffed nearly 7,000 socks in that room and consequently set up the first retail shop in Bergwall Hall history.
// September 9, 2016
Katherine Yeager and Taylor University's campus newspaper The Echo featured our story and mission for the first time.
// September 23, 2016
The first shelter we partnered with was Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis, Indiana. A group of us from Taylor University traveled down that day to hand out socks at their men's emergency shelter.
// November 10, 2016
For the month of November, we were partnered with Cherry Street Mission in Toledo, OH, Eric's hometown. It was an easy decision to skip class that day and road trip as we had the opportunity to interview with CBS affiliate WTOL11.
// March 20, 2017
Here's the story of the day I will never forget. The week before, WISH-TV came to campus and filmed a feature in our dorm. Supposedly, CNN then acquired the footage as partners within the same network. The airing came the following Monday, as Eric and I were gone for Spring Break. Meanwhile, my parents graciously accepted the task of shipping orders having no idea what was about to happen. I still apologize to them frequently.
// May 11, 2017
Late in May Eric, Keeton, and I traveled down to the local Muncie Mission in Muncie, Indiana to deliver all of the socks we raised during our partnership in April.
// May 31, 2017
At the start of the summer, we were invited by a gracious friend, Tracy Gorman, to attend the annual Association of Gospel Rescue Missions convention in Dallas. The majority of the shelters we partner with are connected to this organization.
// August 7, 2017
The Sky Footwear story was picked up for a USA Today College article in early August. We had no idea that a week later it would be featured in the print edition.
// October 1, 2017
Throughout the beginning of October, we filmed various shots for the #MyPair video, which has generated more than 47,000 impressions and provided the traction and support we needed heading into the holiday season.
// March 4, 2018
In March, we had the privilege of partnering with Faithbox which required a delivery of 6,000 pairs of socks. Keeton & I spent the weekend from sun up to sun down counting, tagging, and boxing socks.
// April 28, 2018
In April we attended a Chicago Cubs game through the graciousness of Steve Cishek who has been a huge supporter of our mission. We were granted media passes and were able to capture footage down on the field.
// June 4, 2018
We were able to be a part of the Praxis Emerging Founders 2018 cohort and had the opportunity to pitch the mission of Sky Footwear.
Take a trip down memory lane with us as we look back and celebrate our two-year anniversary! Read about some of the behind-the-scenes events that have made up this blessed road. Of course, none wouldn't be possible without the support and encouragement from those who follow us.
// November 20, 2015
The idea was first presented at Taylor University's annual Shark Tank event. We pitched an idea for a shoe company called Sole Purpose but later rebranded to Sky Footwear while keeping the same mission.
// January 7, 2016
Here are some of the different shoe models we were considering in the midst of our rebranding. This also explains why we branded as Sky "Footwear" and have decided to keep that phrase with the potential of expanding one day.
// April 13, 2016
Torn between the two, we hit the streets of downtown Indianapolis to gather feedback. We used granola bars, water bottles, and backpacks as a way to interact with homeless individuals and have conversations that we hoped would bring direction.
// April 28, 2016
After some back and forth between shoes vs. socks, we finally cemented our decision as a sock company after receiving these three samples.
// August 10, 2016
Here is a glimpse of what the day looked like when 10,000 socks arrived at the Indianapolis Airport. We hauled the shipment back to Bloomington in a horse trailer. Yes, you read that right.
// August 20, 2016
After spending nearly a year in the ideation/concept stage, we officially launched Sky Footwear. I'll forever remember the day Eric & I were glued to our phones for nearly 24 hours having no idea how the day would go.
// September 1, 2016
As we moved back to school in the fall, our socks moved with us. We stuffed nearly 7,000 socks in that room and consequently set up the first retail shop in Bergwall Hall history.
// September 9, 2016
Katherine Yeager and Taylor University's campus newspaper The Echo featured our story and mission for the first time.
// September 23, 2016
The first shelter we partnered with was Wheeler Mission in Indianapolis, Indiana. A group of us from Taylor University traveled down that day to hand out socks at their men's emergency shelter.
// November 10, 2016
For the month of November, we were partnered with Cherry Street Mission in Toledo, OH, Eric's hometown. It was an easy decision to skip class that day and road trip as we had the opportunity to interview with CBS affiliate WTOL11.
// March 20, 2017
Here's the story of the day I will never forget. The week before, WISH-TV came to campus and filmed a feature in our dorm. Supposedly, CNN then acquired the footage as partners within the same network. The airing came the following Monday, as Eric and I were gone for Spring Break. Meanwhile, my parents graciously accepted the task of shipping orders having no idea what was about to happen. I still apologize to them frequently.
// May 11, 2017
Late in May Eric, Keeton, and I traveled down to the local Muncie Mission in Muncie, Indiana to deliver all of the socks we raised during our partnership in April.
// May 31, 2017
At the start of the summer, we were invited by a gracious friend, Tracy Gorman, to attend the annual Association of Gospel Rescue Missions convention in Dallas. The majority of the shelters we partner with are connected to this organization.
// August 7, 2017
The Sky Footwear story was picked up for a USA Today College article in early August. We had no idea that a week later it would be featured in the print edition.
// October 1, 2017
Throughout the beginning of October, we filmed various shots for the #MyPair video, which has generated more than 47,000 impressions and provided the traction and support we needed heading into the holiday season.
// March 4, 2018
In March, we had the privilege of partnering with Faithbox which required a delivery of 6,000 pairs of socks. Keeton & I spent the weekend from sun up to sun down counting, tagging, and boxing socks.
// April 28, 2018
In April we attended a Chicago Cubs game through the graciousness of Steve Cishek who has been a huge supporter of our mission. We were granted media passes and were able to capture footage down on the field.
// June 4, 2018
We were able to be a part of the Praxis Emerging Founders 2018 cohort and had the opportunity to pitch the mission of Sky Footwear.