Bernardo and Otília are the protagonists of a true film plot. All began at the moment Bernardo was out, with his friends, thought about creating a shoe from cannabis leaves. The "planetary” idea took shape when he talked… with his grandmother. Otília, with over 50 years of experience in the textile sector, was crucial in the development of the prototypes. It was born, thus, 8000kicks.
In this edition of New Generation, we spoke with Bernardo, but also Otília, who had a key role in the creation of this brand.
How did 8000kicks come about?
Bernardo: The project was born from a jest. It was 5 am, and someone in my group had the idea of producing a cannabis leave shoe. Initially, it had no interest whatsoever, but later I started researching about the topic and ended up asking my grandmother, who has more than 50 years of experience in textiles, for help.
Why did you have your grandmother join the project?
Bernardo: My grandmother is the equivalent of a CTO (Chief Technology Officer). She is the one helping in the development of the fabric and the details of construction. Her experience was crucial to accelerate the development and entry on the market. Without her, I would still be working on the first prototypes.
D. Otília is really the grandmother of this project. You have many years of experience in the textile sector… did you accept right away your grandson’ request?
Bernardo: My grandmother is the equivalent of a CTO (Chief Technology Officer). She is the one helping in the development of the fabric and the details of construction. Her experience was crucial to accelerate the development and entry on the market. Without her, I would still be working on the first prototypes.
D. Otília is really the grandmother of this project. You have many years of experience in the textile sector… did you accept right away your grandson’ request?
I was initially a little angry that my grandson wanted to enter the world of "drugs”. However, he managed to explain to me that it was a sustainable material, so I helped him.
Was it easy to work with a material such as hemp? What challenges does this material pose?
The material was very strong, in fact so strong that my sewing machine couldn’t do it. Hence, right from the beginning, Bernardo took me to the factories to help in the development process and control the quality of the products.
Returning to Bernardo, how does your brand distinguish itself in the market?
The brand distinguishes itself for making hemp shoes, which is our speciality. The fibre we are developing has already had several interactions from years of lab testing and customer’s feedback. Hemp is far superior to other fibres, as it is more resistant and ecological and, in this case, because it is waterproof.
What plans do you have for the future of the brand?
Bernardo: Currently, we are launching new models and products, all associated with the hemp fibres we have developed.
What advice would you give to a person starting out in the industry?
Bernardo: The most important advice would be to persevere because things go quite wrong before they go well. In this sense, young people mustn’t give up on the first obstacles.
D. Otília, what is the advice that you most often give to young people?
What I say the most to my grandsons, and young people in general, is that they must work hard. Without work, there are no fruits.
What I say the most to my grandsons, and young people in general, is that they must work hard. Without work, there are no fruits.