Today we’d like to introduce you to Ce Ce Chin.
Hi Ce Ce, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I used to wear heels but always longed for easy to walk in, elegant footwear. That’s why I created Babos.
For almost 20 years I’ve been designing leathergoods and shoes. Early in my career, I designed for Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. In 2007, I launched my first independent shoe line, 8020 footwear. Based in NYC, the brand kickstarted the hidden wedge trend to the modern marketplace. Providing women a “padded bra of footwear”, our concealed height in boots and sneakers caught on quickly. Soon 8020 shoes were performing well at Fred Segal, American Rag, Urban Outfitters, Free People, Anthropologie, and Lane Crawford in Hong Kong. I seized the opportunity to go big and produced the hidden wedge concept for Aldo private label for several years.
In 2018 I launched Babos, an evolution of the traditional Moroccan babouche, into an elegant sneaker with a bouncy rubber outsole. If 8020 was all about optimizing height in the big city, then Babos is about approaching a balanced lifestyle with grounded presence. Each season is a limited color capsule based on leather salvaged from deadstock inventory. This new journey reflects the changes in the industry: direct to consumer e-commerce, social media marketing, and sustainability best practices.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The Pandemic was quite a challenge! I do the majority of my sales at live pop up events, so almost all of 2020 and 2021 was a bust. Luckily I had a base of customers who love the shoes and continued to support the brand. In 2022 we did quite well due to live events happening once again.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
What Makes Us Different? Our babouche is an evolution of a traditional Moroccan slipper- into a modern sneaker with a bouncy rubber outsole. When you visit the markets in Marrakesh (or scroll on Etsy), you’ll see shoes that look similar- but those will offer no support. In fact, they might even lack a clear right or left foot!
Well, we pulled the genie out of the bottle by evolving the “Aladdin” slipper- adding the tread, comfort, and overall wearability of sneakers while maintaining an elegant profile. The result is a comfortable design that’s good for the sole.
And we’re taking steps toward sustainability by using leather salvaged from deadstock inventory. Furthermore, we offer replacement footbeds to prolong the life cycle of your shoes.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love the LA’s clear skies and beautiful sunsets. And I love the easy access to the ocean and hiking spots with great views. I love Los Feliz because it’s walkable and has such character.
I don’t like the traffic, but if you can plan your day around it, LA can be quite easy to navigate.
Pricing:
- $175-$200
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mybabos.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mybabos_/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyBabos/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cecechin/
Image Credits
Photos by Natalje Kent
