Australian footwear business Cammino is set to launch a Kickstarter campaign for its Italian shoemakers, stockists and itself.
The business, which designs its ballet flats in Melbourne and manufacturers them in Fermo Italy, will launch the crowd funding campaign to support the third generation, family business that hand-makes its shoes as well as its stockists.
As with all small businesses, Cammino, the retail outlets that purchase its shoes and its Italian shoemakers have all been impacted by COVID-19.
Cammino designer Katrina Verso said that she wanted to start the campaign to not only support the businesses, but also the traditional shoemaking industry.
"I am trying to make people aware that fast fashion and mass production is destroying our environment.
"Now more than ever after COVID-19, we need to focus on slow fashion and ensure that the fashion we purchase is not over produced with many items ending up in landfill.
"I also want to help create awareness for the ancient art of shoemaking.
"It is incredibly sad that this tradition is getting lost as big brands choose mass production for high profit in huge factories with low cost labour.
"The shoemakers who have always relied on learning and working in the family shoe-making business, are not encouraging their children to focus on other fields when it comes to tertiary education rather than continue working in the shoe-making family business," she said.
Cammino shoemakers make 22 pairs by hand each day, with a focus on slow, sustainable, traditional shoemaking methods.