The S.B. Questionnaire: Heather Christensen Smith
Talking African Footwear and Nurses with the Art Curator and Co-Founder of Wazi Shoes
“When somebody picks up the shoes, they see that it’s beautiful leather shoe,” says Heather Christensen Smith, co-founder of Santa Barbara-based Wazi Shoes. “Some people want to live a simple life and only own a couple of shoes.”
She believes Wazi Shoes can be one such pair. These durable, stylish beaded sandals are handmade in Tanzania by fair-wage workers. Every pair sold supports their economy while raising money to fund nurse scholars in Africa through the Gretta Foundation.
Heather started Wazi Shoes with her sister, Alice Christensen Majid, in 2017. “Wazi” is Swahili for “open,” which alludes both to the open-toed design and the mantra of “open minds, open hearts, and open road.”
