Sole toSoul
Ron Donovan
The Shoe Maker’s Studio & The Soul Strategist
Fashion-preneur Ron Donovan can be described as nothing less than “refined and impeccably elegant.” With 25 years of experience as a shoemaker, strategist, and coach, he adds value, diversity, and luxury to a lifestyle brand. Describing his childhood as “eclectic,” Donovan’s craft was nurtured at an early age through his exposure to diversity, arts, athletics, and faith. “My parents were both collegeeducated professionals. My mother is a mathematician, and my father is an engineer.” Donovan was born and raised in South Carolina. He attended The Georgia Institute of Technology, and as a freshman, “walked onto” the university’s NCAA Division 1 basketball team with a height of 6 ‘2 and a size 15 in shoes. While playing at Georgia Institute of Technology, he played with and against a Who’s Who list of NBA greats like Kenny Smith, Spud Webb, John Salley, and even Michael Jordan. After graduating, the “Tech” graduate began a career in technical design and sales. Although he excelled, he left the corporate world to answer the call to his “right livelihood.” In pursuit of business ventures with less than desired success, Donovan’s innate passion for fashion and style was unquestionably calling out to him. His inability to find necessity led him to create a high-quality yet fashionable shoe, “necessity being the mother of invention.” Determined to create men’s shoes that fit his size, 15 ½, he became a cordwainer and hand-crafted his signature brand: Ron Donovan. Ron Donovan was able to marry his passion for fashion and style with his technical skills, thus creating a platform that would exemplify the exquisiteness of his craft. The creative Ron Donovan designs and produces footwear, accessories, and apparel for both men and women. In addition, he offers footwear and accessorymaking classes through his studio. The creation of his New Yorkbased luxury “lifestyle” brand, was a segue that allowed his skills as a craftsman to explore other entrepreneurial endeavors: The Shoemaker’s Studio. The Trying of His Faith Ron’s faith was strong before one of the most dismal times of his life. He was diagnosed and faced with prostate cancer at a considerably young age, which considerably changed his perspective on life. “While difficult at times, my faith helps me remain in gratitude and embrace the beautiful life that I have versus mourning the life I, at times, used to “think” I lost.” He describes his faith as a foundation of his mindset combined with logic and creativity. “It is integral in all I achieve and transcend. This balanced mindset has developed over time and forged from many trials, tribulations, and
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