In the bustling heart of Mumbai, with just ₹7,000 in hand and a single handcrafted pair made in the narrow lanes of Dharavi, we began.
Our first brand, Z & Co., was born out of ambition — to craft mid-luxury leather shoes for the modern Indian gentleman. Loafers, brogues, oxfords, lace-ups — all handmade, priced at ₹7,000 per pair. The market responded warmly. But the deeper we grew, the more we struggled with consistency. Delays, poor finishing, and fractured workflows in Dharavi made scaling a dream that cracked under pressure.
Then, during a chance encounter, we met a struggling shoemaker in Agra. He showed us a pair of imperfect but promising horse-bit loafers — and unknowingly lit the spark for what would become our next chapter.
ENTER SOLA DORO - THE GOLDEN SOLE.
What began as a pivot became a purpose. Sola Doro was born — not just as a brand, but as a tribute to perseverance, raw talent, and accessible artistry.
Sola Doro means Golden Sole in Italian
With more reliable craftsmanship and a more realistic price point of ₹3,500–4,000, we launched loafers and leather formals that found their audience. Customers came back. Referrals came in. A community began forming — one loyal step at a time.
But post-COVID, the world changed. Formalwear faded as casual culture surged. Dress shoes began to feel like relics. We listened, learned, and evolved.
We made our first sneaker.
Now, we make more than shoes.
We make design-first, function-forward footwear for an audience that aspires for brands like Onitsuka Tiger, Vans, Aldo — but seeks Indian craft and affordability.
Sola Doro today stands for:
- Thoughtfully designed, functionally aesthetic footwear
- Handcrafted precision at fair prices
- An evolving legacy born from the streets of Dharavi, matured in Agra, and shaped by the spirit of Indian Shoemaking
This is our story. From ₹7,000 to many loyal soles.
At Sola Doro, we stay true to tested processes - we commence with selecting the style of each shoe, meticulously choosing the quality of Leather, Canvas or Polyutherene, hand-cutting the uppers and the soles manoeuvred by our workers in a neat pattern, we then stitch and assemble the uppers by hand and some of our workers who have enriched 36 years worth experience, the uppers and soles are stitched with cotton thread, lastly, we slip last, cure, burnish and finally lace to create the luxurious and sleek shoe, made with care and attention for every foot.
Ultimately, we don't make shoes for the hype-beast, the one who runs behind expensive products all the time or just some fancy mainstream brands, we make for people who value good shoes.
Zeeshan Merchant ( Founder, Sola Doro )
