It is no surprise that we love our shoes at bazaar, and THUNA has been on our radar for a long time. We had to speak to Altaf Almudhayan and Sharifa Alsuleity to find out more about what inspired them to design contemporary, handmade and high-quality women’s footwear and accessories.
THUNA, which means pair in Arabic, is a play on words they tell us. The idea is that the term refers not only to the gorgeous pairs of shoes they create, but also to themselves, Altaf and Sharifa. The two have known each other for the better part of a decade and valued each other’s work ethics and commitment, but never imagined they would be working together.
They started working together after taking an elevator ride together. Altaf had always had a deep love and obsession for shoes, and after a trip to Greece where Sharifa saw how the shoes were made, she fell in love with the craftsmanship. During that elevator ride, Sharifa couldn’t help but be amazed by the beauty of Altaf’s shoes and shared her Greece experience. That was the moment that sparked the creation of THUNA.
The girls behind THUNA both come from professional backgrounds, Altaf has an industrial engineer background and has worked in international consulting firms which have helped hone in on her organizational skills and become more process oriented. While Sharifa comes from a background of finance, she shifted gears during her career to focus on product development and retail, which has been the perfect way for her to get introduced to the world of production and dealing with manufacturers.
Altaf and Sharifa told us that when they first started off, they faced hurdles galore, but this only helped them grow as partners and understand how well they worked together. They tell us that “we’ve realized that our partnership and our work together has not only helped the brand grow but also we have grown as individuals”. They both comment on how they have a completely different skillset to each other, as well as different point of views, which has been key for the brand. Altaf has a keen eye for details and a high standard of perfection, which has been imperative for production, marketing, and brand identity. Sharifa has a spark for taking initiatives and leading projects which is super useful for product development and working with factories around the world.
The two girls embarked on a journey to produce beautiful shoes because they found that it was the perfect combination of passion and need. Both have a great appreciation for the craftsmanship behind a stunning pair of shoes, but also, have always needed high quality, stylish shoes which they can wear all day long without breaking the bank or their feet for their corporate jobs.
The biggest challenge while setting up THUNA has been finding suppliers and working with shoe manufacturers. They tell us that the shoe manufacturers are usually family-owned businesses with the craftsmanship being inherited and taught from one generation to the other. These craftsmen only work with customers that they feel they can allow into their close-knit circle, people that they can consider as part of their family. They now work with some manufacturers that they have an incredibly close relationship with, which they are very proud of.
THUNA is the perfect embodiment of both Altaf and Sharifa, they share that the brand “looks and feels like us, it has the same values as well. We both represent the brand and the brand represents us at the same time”.
“Women are at the center of our universe at THUNA so when it comes to creating and designing our pieces, they are our main source of inspiration. Our pieces are inspired by the modern-day woman, a strong, multi-faceted character with a thousand different layers,” Altaf and Sharifa tell us.
And with the same theme of the multi-faceted women, the shoes behind THUNA represent the layers, or “Thanaya” as they are called in Arabic, of each woman and both Altaf and Sharifa interpret these layers through the designs, colors and techniques. The idea behind THUNA is that it is not just a brand; it’s a path and companion on a woman’s journey, making it steadier and more comfortable. It is the layer she wears not only to ground her, but also to mobilize her into her future.
Altaf and Sharifa are working on introducing new lines to their collection, with the same mission of becoming a small part of every woman’s journey and to be by her side in every achievement. They plan to grow regionally and internationally soon after that, while keeping their local heritage intact.
UP CLOSE & PERSONAL QUESTIONNAIRE
What do you most value about your friends?
Altaf: Authenticity, kindness, consideration, and quality time
Sharifa: Authenticity, honesty, and their ability to always have fun and make the best of everything.
Which living person do you most admire?
Altaf: My mom
Sharifa: My dad
What is your idea of perfect happiness?
Altaf: Living slowly, doing things you love, being with people you love, surrounded by nature and drinking tea
Sharifa: Peace of mind while having fun
What is your greatest extravagance?
Altaf: Splurging on wellness retreats in different countries
Sharifa: Fine foods and restaurants
What is your most treasured possession?
Altaf: My two cats, Benzie and Scarface (although I think they possess me more than I possess them)
Sharifa: A birthstone ring I got from a jeweler in the Himalayas during a spiritual trip
What is your greatest fear?
Altaf: Living a life that is not true to myself
Sharifa: Staying still and not growing
What is your most marked characteristic?
Altaf: Attention to detail
Sharifa: Honesty
Which talent would you most like to have?
Altaf: Dancing!
Sharifa: Would love to be able to sing and perform, unfortunately I have the worst voice
What is one trait you have that you are most grateful for?
Altaf: My resilience
Sharifa: My ability to focus on the big picture instead of the small obstacles
What is the human trait you most dislike about others?
Altaf: Hypocrisy
Sharifa: Dishonesty
What is it that you most dislike?
Altaf: Disrespect, dishonesty, and not keeping promises
Sharifa: Reckless driving
Which words or phrases do you most overuse?
Altaf: “I feel like…” “انا احس
Sharifa: Interesting!
What are your favorite words to live by?
Altaf: “The universe has your back” كل شي بالأرض مسخر لج
Sharifa: The only way to go forward is to go through
Where would you most like to live?
Altaf: A place that is quiet and close to nature
Sharifa: I’m a city girl, anywhere where I can walk every day to work and have a good cup of coffee. Also, good weather never hurts
If you could have any job, what would it be?
Altaf: I would rather not be constrained to a specific job and given that I have my own business gives me the flexibility to explore different areas
Sharifa: I’m very lucky to currently have the best job I could dream of
What would you consider your greatest achievement?
Altaf: Who I am today and everything I have learned so far
Sharifa: Designing and creating the life I always wanted
What do you hope for the future?
Altaf: To help empower women across the world live a better life of their own
Sharifa: To be able to create a foundation that helps women in business
We own several pairs of THUNA shoes ourselves, and they definitely deliver on the promise of comfort, style, and affordability. We may even go as far as saying that they are our favorite pair of boots! You can stay up to date with the latest from THUNA by following the brand on Instagram @thunaofficial or shop online on www.thunaofficial.com.
