SUFFERING FROM RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS WHICH LEFT SARIKA NOT ONLY IN SEVERE PAIN BUT UNABLE TO WEAR CONVENTIONAL SHOES, HUSBAND ASHLEY CAME TO THE RESCUE. CANDICE MEIRING-BASNETT CHATTED TO THE RAMLAKANS TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE SECRETS OF ANGEL SOFT
Pictures Dawn Rouse
The saying goes: “Give a girl the right pair of shoes and she can conquer the world”. Sarika and Ashley Ramlakan, the power couple behind Angel Soft, have taken that to a whole new level.
It’s been a big year for the Ramlakan family. Sarika and Ashley both turned 40 this year; they have celebrated 14 years of marriage; their daughter Sitara turns 10; and their twins four. In between all the family festivities Angel Soft has been showcased in New York and will be heading to Paris and Australia later this year.
The Ramlakan family live in an immaculate home on the uMhlanga Ridge, which is where they chatted to us about their life and their revolutionary footwear brand.
When Sarika fell pregnant with Sitara she began suffering from stiff hands and feet, sore joints and little aches, which continued until after her baby was born. Being a new mum she didn’t think much of it. Fast forward six months and the words “dreaded disease” suddenly became a part of their everyday life. Now diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, the former Miss SA India was on the hunt for functional fashionable footwear.
Enter Ashley – her dashing husband – whose family have been manufacturing footwear for the past 37 years. Their factory in Isipingo produce about 2 000 pairs of shoes a day that walk their way into the commercial market. Angel Footwear supply big retail chains as well as produce the various parts – soles, uppers, midsoles, outers, etc – that make up a shoe. Inspired by his wife’s new requirements in a shoe, he saw a gap in the market: the need for a shoe that marries fashion and comfort at an affordable price.
What sets Angel Soft apart from other shoes is that it’s the only footwear manufacturer in the country currently making comfort sandals where the light and soft polyurethane sole is actually moulded directly on to the upper and sock material fusing it together. This is completely different to the traditional stuck-on application commonly used, which also means your shoes won’t fall apart because of a lack of glue. More importantly, eliminating the insole ensures complete comfort and additional flexibility.
The team spent about eight years getting the science behind the shoe just right and in 2016 Angel Soft was ready to launch. Wearing an off-the-shoulder summer dress, Sarika completes her look with a pair of Angel Soft white leather sneakers. She’s effortlessly casual and talks openly about rheumatoid arthritis. The chronic autoimmune disease affects joints, especially in the hands and feet, creating inflammation that destroys cartilage and bone causing pain and disability. Both Sarika’s wrist bones have collapsed and there is visible swelling around her knuckles on both hands. “With regards to my feet, I experience the same symptoms as my hands – swollen, stiff and really sore feet. And as a result, a collapsed arch.”
Even still, this has not dampened her spirits. The mother of three says: “It’s just become a part of who I am. I train every day which has helped and I just try to live my best life every day.”
As we discuss juggling being a business owner, mom and wife, she explains that with various different treatments she’s only really had about one year of relief in the past 10 years. In fact, she’s about to try yet another new med, and hopes there will be some relief.
Back to the shoes, we chat about the leopard print sneakers on the table. “Animal print is still huge in the States,” says Ashley. Sarika pulls out the rose gold colourway which retails for about R750 and then a pair of metallic sandals. We all agree the new summer range delivers everything it sets out to do – offer fashion, comfort and flexibility.
“The product sells itself,” says Ashley nonchalantly. For fun they took Angel Soft to the Reddam fair this year and sold out on the first day. Backed by podiatrists the Angel Soft range is not just a functional shoe, it also gets fashionistas equally excited. *
FOR MORE INFO
www.shoefie.co.za; or follow them on Instagram @angelsoftshoes