Halal Socks has been mentioned in the Times Magazine, Washington Post, New York Times, Toronto Star, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post, and Vogue
The start-up company extends beyond the sole purpose of traditional socks, as Sara Qureshy, Co-Founder and Lead Designer of Halal Socks, explains. “While keeping your feet warm with the highest quality fabric, our designs represent the values and ideals of the modern Muslim. That means promoting tolerance and acceptance of people from all walks of life, inclusivity, and pride in being Muslim at a time where the political climate is often very anti-Islam. Hoping to unite people one step at a time, Halal Socks donates a percentage of every sale to charities that align with the company’s vision.” The couple say their greatest fun comes from creating something fresh, fun, and – most importantly – respectful to the Muslim community. They hope Halal Socks is part of the first wave of better representation for Islamic choices for holidays, celebration, and clothing that showcases Muslim pride. “As socks are clearly visible when praying, the Halal Socks brand lets you add a little bit of individuality and celebration of Islam with every step,” says Qureshy, who, along with designing the socks, also markets the products through social media and endorsements. “Our socks are made from the world’s finest combed cotton and are crafted with pride. While impossible not
to notice, the luxurious feel of the material is a dream to wear and are guaranteed to fit you better.” Immediately after launch, the brand caused a media frenzy when Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wore its colorful Happy Eid socks. “Our first and biggest achievement was to see Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau flaunt our Happy Eid socks at a publicized event,” says Qureshy. “To see an honorable leader like Trudeau connecting with and showing support for the Muslim community on such a personal level, it was incredibly humbling to say the least.” Then in July, the CEO of Toronto-based Paramount Fine Foods, Mr Mohamad Fakih, was seen wearing the world’s first pair of Shawarma Socks – by Halal Socks – while gifting the second pair to Mr Trudeau. “To have these two prominent individuals wear our socks was definitely one for the books,” she smiles. The above achievements led to Halal Socks being mentioned in the Times Magazine, Washington Post, New York Times, Toronto Star, Al Jazeera, Huffington Post, Times Magazine, and Vogue. In addition to these articles, the Qureshys were interviewed by Ben Mulroney on ETalk. Halal Socks has also been featured in MacLeans, MangoBaaz, and The National. “While these accomplishments are quite impressive for a start-up, our ultimate goal is to spread peace and joy across the world, one sock at a time,” she says. The Qureshys believe the brand will do well in duty free because due to high demand, the brand’s unique designs are rapidly gaining international attention. Having them available at duty free locations would make them more easily accessible. In addition, the Solidarity collection consists of designs that are specifically catered to creating awareness around anti-Islamophobia in western countries. While they make great conversation-starters, souvenirs, and gifts, these socks seek to promote peace and unity. Currently, Halal Socks is available at five retailers in the Greater Toronto area: The Date Palm, Modah, Isna Canada, Studio 89, and Nur Shop. The brand is also available at Siraj Store in New Jersey, US. Halal Socks is looking for distributors in the travel retail market, as Qureshy explains. “The global travel retail market was valued at US$63.5 billion in 2014 and has only increased since. As we continue to expand internationally, we would love to have distributors in the travel retail market so that Halal Socks can be a small portion of that growing figure.”
Halal Socks Inc Founders Sara and Sherry Qureshy donate a percentage of every sale to charities that align with the company’s vision
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