Death-defying feet for fashionistas

Rob and Paul Forkan, who lost their parents in the 2004 tsunami, have created a footwear brand that devotes 10% of its profits to helping orphans. Gandys was set up less than two years ago by the Forkans in their one-bedroom flat in London. Rob and Paul, 26 and 24 respectively, have traversed the globe, volunteering and working in different countries.

They spent years in India working in slums and orphanages and embracing new cultures. Tragically, while travelling in Sri Lanka, the brothers lost their parents to the tsunami and had to hitchhike 200km back to the national airport with no passports or money. The siblings wanted to take the ultimate negative and create something positive, so they turned their hand to fashion and have quickly established themselves as up and coming entrepreneurs and designers.

Gandys has a unique patented rope strap design, inspired by the brothers’ time in India, and the flip-flops are made of 100% rubber. Because of their individual design, Gandys won a global fashion award last month. At the end of 2012, in the space of five months, Rob and Paul signed up most of the UK’s major high street retailers, including Selfridges, Topman Oxford Street, ASOS.com and many more.

Even billionaire Sir Richard Branson is a Gandys enthusiast and now stocks them on Necker Island. Anyone that stays on the island is given a pair in their room. After working with the Forkans this summer, Branson called them “inspiring young entrepreneurs”.

Gandys donates ten percent of its profits to the Orphans for Orphans mission, an organisation that Rob and Paul have created. This year the brothers will be delivering Christmas presents to children less fortunate in India after an epic train journey across India and a rickshaw run.

By the end of 2014, the brothers want to open an orphanage in the memory of their parents.