Solz Launches Third Successful Crowd-funding Campaign

San Francisco, July 24, 2013.  

San Francisco-based fashion startup SOLZ has just reached their funding goal on their third online crowd-funding campaign.  Having already used crowd-funding to bring their innovative fold-up sneakers and solar powered bags to market, SOLZ now is using the online site indiegogo to produce a line of colorful and conversation-worthy LED watches.  The campaign can be viewed at: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solzwatch-time-to-shine

SOLZ’ new watches SHINE brightly and are a cool, different product available now at an amazing price.  Because they are donating 10% of the profits to charity 10x10, they are also helping educate girls worldwide.  SOLZwatch grabs attention and raises awareness.  Time to shine!

SOLZ founder Brad Carrick explained, “Its not just about fashion - or even our products.  Its about using innovative technologies to make business possible and make the world a better place.  A SOLZwatch doesn’t just look good, it shows that the wearer puts thought behind their purchases and doesn’t follow the herd.”

The campaign is live now at: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/solzwatch-time-to-shine. Brad can be reached to provide additional information, comments, graphics or samples at brad@solzshoes.com or call 415-986-7131.

• Campaign is live only until Aug. 9.
• Both earlier campaigns exceeded 200% of their goals and this one looks poised to repeat.  See previous indiegogo campaigns here.
• By exceeding the base goal, SOLZ will be able to produce the watches in a variety of colors and launch the brand on a larger scale.
• Watches are available 50-60% below retail.
• The campaign offers a variety of perks for both individuals and businesses.
• SOLZ is an example of a true grass-roots fashion tech startup with no outside investment funded by everyday people.  
• Dedicated to social responsibility, 10% of SOLZwatch profits go to educating girls.

About SOLZ and Founder Brad Carrick

Winner of 2012 “Designer of the Year” in the San Francisco Fashion Awards, SOLZ is dedicated to creating functional shoes and accessories for active lifestyles.  Famous for their innovative foldable shoes, solar-powered backpacks and mirror watches, SOLZ is currently launching a crowd funding campaign for their newest watch called “SHINE.”  SOLZ is a completely grass-roots crowd-funded company.  This is their 3rd indiegogo campaign, their first two both raised over 200% of their funding goals.  SOLZ has been dedicated from the start to socially conscious and responsible business. SOLZshine.com

Brad graduated from Colgate University with B.A. in International Relations, Economics and Asian Studies. He also holds a JD from Harvard Law School and an MBA from IE Business School in Spain.  Having lived on four different continents, his inability to sit still made SOLZ a necessity - and now a reality.  Visit: SOLZwatch.com

SOLZ, Solar Bag

SOLZ, Solar Bag is a sponsored project of SFFAMA.

• From the team that brought you SOLZ shoes.

We are proud to announce the pre-launch of our newest functional fashion product “SOLZbag”, a solar powered backpack that functions as a personal portable power station. The bag is designed with three 1.5-watt solar panels that will give a total of 4.5 watt charge to a removable lithium-ion battery; the battery is versatile and also can be charged by a computer or any power source available. Once the battery is charged, it can be connected to almost any small personal electronic device using a variety of power adaptors that come with it. The bag also includes a front pocket, specially designed to hold a pair of SOLZshoes. The bag contains a dedicated padded laptop or tablet sleeve and an additional sunglass and accessory pocket.

This bag is perfect for days on the beach, picnics, hikes, or even just running around town.  We all know how frustrating it is to have your smartphone or tablet run out of battery life.  With SOLZbag, this never has to happen again.

The battery is removable and can be used without the backpack as well.  This itself is a very useful and handy little lifesaver.

We have spent our own money designing and developing this product.  We have our manufacturing ready and just need to raise $7500 to meet our initial minimum order quantity.  Join this campaign and help us bring this amazing product to market.

SOLZ also has a soul.  We have partnered with Nashville-based charity Soles4Souls to distribute shoes to people in need. We have made it possible so that for every SOLZ bag or pair of SOLZ shoes purchased, we can get a pair of shoes to people in need.

4.5 Watts of Solar Power: 1 hour in sun = 3-4 hours talk time. Battery: Up to 20+ hours talk time or 50+ hours music playback. SOLZ bag will help you stay organized, stay active, stay green and stay charged…SOLZ, Never stop shining!

• Join SFFAMA, Follow SFFAMA, Like SFFAMA. For media relations & PR/Publicity contact Owen Geronimo

Winter Solztice, Recap by Del Geronimo 12.16.11

[ Photos by: DEL GERONIMO ]

• About SOLZ, Inc. SOLZshoes is a San Francisco- based producer of footwear and accessories. SOLZ was founded in 2010 to provide ultra-comfortable lightweight, stylish and flexible roll-able and fold-able shoes for a variety of lifestyle needs. Life should be fun, light and comfortable – and so should your shoes. “Lighten up, let your SOLZ shine.” For additional information about SOLZ, please visit www.solzshoes.com or contact Brad Carrick at brad@solzshoes.com or 415-986-7131.

• DEL GERONIMO, Photographer. Aside from photographing models, Del Geronimo is also the producer of the San Francisco Fashion Awards, honoring local industry professionals, the marketing director for BLACK V, and the editor of Bleed Magazine, a fashion blog based from the San Francisco Bay Area fashion scene. He is a world traveler and an award winning photographer. He also contributes to City Model Management and Ford Models SF, as an editorial fashion photographer.

• Join SFFAMA, Follow SFFAMA, Like SFFAMA. For media relations & PR/Publicity contact OwenGeronimo -at-contact@sffamainc.org

Winter Solztice, Recap by Attic Floc 12.16.11

[ Source/ Photos: ATTIC FLOC. Collections by: Saga Swimwear, Victor’s Promise and Solz Shoes ]

• About SOLZ, Inc. SOLZshoes is a San Francisco- based producer of footwear and accessories. SOLZ was founded in 2010 to provide ultra-comfortable lightweight, stylish and flexible roll-able and fold-able shoes for a variety of lifestyle needs. Life should be fun, light and comfortable – and so should your shoes. “Lighten up, let your SOLZ shine.” For additional information about SOLZ, please visit www.solzshoes.com or contact Brad Carrick at brad@solzshoes.com or 415-986-7131.

• Join SFFAMA, Follow SFFAMA, Like SFFAMA. For media relations & PR/Publicity contact OwenGeronimo -at-contact@sffamainc.org

Winter Solztice Press Release

[ Photo by: Shaun Tiangsing ]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

SOLZ Shoe Company Launches New Footwear Line by Hosting “Winter SOLZtice" Fashion Show and Holiday Sale with Charity Shoe Drive.

In a winter tribute to the summer SOLZtice, fashion show will feature SOLZ beach shoes worn with designer swimwear. Homage is then paid to snuggle season with a “Catwalk of Shame” featuring SOLZ city shoes and an array of morning after wear.

San Francisco, CA, Dec 2011 — SOLZshoes (http://www.solzshoes.com) is proud to announce the official launch of their brand new roll-able casual shoe line. In celebration of this, they are hosting a fashion show and holiday sale on Friday, December 16^th, from 6-10 pm at 4N5 Gallery, 863 Mission Street, San Francisco, CA 94103.

SOLZ are fashionable flats on the go that come in a convenient zip up capsule bag. The shoes are ultra-light and flexible – they can be folded or rolled and are designed to move naturally with your feet as you walk. They are all also machine washable.

The evening will include live music, a VIP section with hosted appetizers by the brand new fashion and culinary magazine, “Gastonomique En Vogue.” http://gastronomiqueenvogue.com/, Summer & Winter inspired drink specials, red carpet photo stream, goody bags, and exclusive holiday launch deals on their new shoes for last minute stocking stuffers.

• Featured Designers: 

 SOLZshoes, Saga Swimwear, Victor’s Promise, DeeFind Shoes, Homme by Dahae Kim

• Entertainment: DJ’s J MILLION and DJ SO.LZ, Live music by Cassandra Farrar and the Left Brains, Live viola and violin

SOLZshoes is partnered with Nashville based charity Soles4Souls. **Donate a pair of shoes and get a free drink ticket!** In addition, as always, for every pair of new SOLZ shoes purchased,  a pair of shoes is provided to someone in need.

Sponsored by: SOLZ, Victor’s Promise, Saga Swimwear, deeFind Shoes, Homme by Dahae Kim, Ken Chen SF, Gastronomique En Vogue, SFFAMA, Gallery 4n5

• About SOLZ, Inc.

SOLZshoes is a San Francisco- based producer of footwear and accessories. SOLZ was founded in 2010 to provide ultra-comfortable lightweight, stylish and flexible roll-able and fold-able shoes for a variety of lifestyle needs. Life should be fun, light and comfortable – and so should your shoes. “Lighten up, let your SOLZ shine.”

• For additional information about SOLZ, please visit www.solzshoes.com or contact Brad Carrick at brad@solzshoes.com or 415-986-7131.

• JOIN SFFAMA. Follow @SFFAMA + Join Discussions @ Facebook
• For media relations or publicity  contact OwenGeronimo -at-contact@sffamainc.org

Shaun Tiangsing: Un-retouched Proof by Brad Carrick

Having worked with Shaun on several fashion events, I had a sense of what to expect in our recent shoot for SOLZ.  Whether at San Francisco Fashion Week 2011, The 2011 SF Fashion Awards or the countless SFFAMA panels and events we have done, the experience is somewhat the same.  Shaun shows up with equipment.  He does not rely on available light, choosing to help create the perfect environment.  Yet once the shot begins, he basically moves into the background, allowing the emotion to unfold naturally.  Maybe it’s his experience working with runway models where direction is not possible, or maybe he just trusts himself to catch real moments.   

Only once in a while will Shaun poke his head out from behind the camera to make a suggestion.  Perhaps just “how about an epic shot facing the sun?”, “how about a happy one?”, or more often than not  … “I think we’re all good for this.”  The most consistent thing about working with Shaun, however, is the result.  He works fast, and you can expect to receive a folder of selected photos, enough to give you a fair amount choice but still be manageable. Don’t expect the choice to be easy though, because they are probably all fantastic.  After our shoot, we had a chance to sit down so that I could get a better idea of what makes Shaun Tiangsing … click.

• SOLZ: Nature vs Nurture.  How much of photography is talent and how much is learned?  For the “learned” part did you study photography in school?  

Shaun:  Wow. Starting off with the touqh questions first I see. Talent is more important by far. Anybody can learn all the technical stuff but you can’t be taught your vision and ideas. I hate to say this because I meet so many photographers going to school for photography - but you do not need to.  I do understand, though, that everybody is different and some people really need a school environment to learn and benefit. I learned the technical stuff through books and online videos.  I often browse through magazines for the ads as well, but I’ve learned the most just by shooting.  Shoot, go home and look at the pics, analyze what I like and don’t like, go out and shoot again.   

• SOLZ: Did you always know you wanted to do fashion photography?

Shaun::  No. Oddly enough, it just kind of found me.  Before this I was taking pictures of my dog.

• SOLZ:  How does your background contribute to your concept of fashion?

Shaun:  I have no background in fashion. I often wonder to myself what am I doing here but somehow I fit in.  My wish for designers is to always try to take it to the next level.  Be a leader and innovate!

• SOLZ:  How does your background contribute to your concept of fashion?

Shaun:  I have no background in fashion. I often wonder to myself what am I doing here but somehow I fit in.  My wish for designers is to always try to take it to the next level.  Be a leader and innovate!

• + CONTINUE READING…

• Brad Carrick is the owner and founder of SOLZ Shoes and business developer for SFFAMA. SOLZ Shoes combines a lifestyle shoe company with an extendable microbranding platform.  It has designed and patented a unique, lightweight casual shoe that folds up in a small “capsule” that can be clipped on to bags or clothing. It has also launched “The Walk Street Movement” and “The Sneak In Artist” as additional lifestyle brands. SOLZ is the name of the company and also the flagship brand. SOLZ shoes is marketed as the “Ultimate Beach Shoes” and a platform for self-branding, sponsorship opportunities enabling working with clients to license or franchise any of their brands.

• See SF Fashion Calendar  + JOIN SFFAMA. 
  
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• For media relations or publicity  contact OwenGeronimo -at-contact@sffamainc.org

SOLZ Shoe company launches crowd-funding pre-order campaign.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SOLZ shoe company launches crowd-funding pre-order campaign.

San Francisco, CA. 2011 - SOLZshoes (www.solzshoes.com) is proud to announce the prelaunch of their brand new roll-able casual shoe line. SOLZ are fashionable flats on the go that come in a convenient zip up capsule bag. The shoes are ultra-light and flexible – they can be folded or rolled and are designed to move naturally with your feet as you walk. They are all also machine washable.

From the same team that successfully launched The Walk Street Movement and Walksoftz “Roll-up ballet flats in the clutch” earlier this year, SOLZ shoes will initially be available in three distinct styles and more will be available soon. They are all based on a proprietary, patentpending versatile design emphasizing flexibility and comfort. SOLZ, Inc. is a local SF-based lifestyle company and has chosen to raise the funding necessary to order their shoes using SF based “crowd-funding” site IndieGoGo. Users can pre-order shoes for $33 per pair, a significant savings from the $59.99 expected normal retail price. They also offer opportunities to join their team as an “Affiliate Founding Partner” and order shoes by the dozen for resale. They even offer the chance to help design a custom shoe yourself. The offer is open only for the next 33 days.

Brad Carrick, founder of SOLZ and The Walk Street Movement, explained, “I love the idea of utilizing local technology to bring people together and make a creative idea possible. By crowd funding, we are able to offer our shoes at steep discounts and give people a chance to be part of the story of this company. We are very excited about our new shoes and looking forward to bringing them to market by the end of summer.”

Learn more, or join the movement and be a contributor yourself at:
http://www.indiegogo.com/SOLZ-shoes-on-a-roll

About SOLZ, Inc. www.solzshoes.com

SOLZshoes is a San Francisco- based producer of footwear and accessories. The parent company of The Walk Street Movement, The Sneak In Artist and SOLZ beach shoes, SOLZ was founded in 2010 to provide ultra-comfortable lightweight, stylish and flexible roll-able and fold-able shoes for a variety of lifestyle needs. Life should be fun, light and comfortable – and so should your shoes. “Lighten up, let your SOLZ shine.” Brad Carrick (Co-Founder, CEO)

Brad Carrick is a California corporate attorney and entrepreneur. After working as a product manager at a fast-moving Silicon Valley software start-up in the dot-com era, he left to attend Harvard Law School. Upon graduation in 2005, he spent three years practicing law at the prominent international law firm Latham & Watkins in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. His entrepreneurial spirit led him back to pursue an MBA at IE in Madrid, Spain, graduating in December, 2010. He brings over 10 years combined legal and business experience, with much of it international. A self-proclaimed “Celebrator,” his passion for fashion and lifestyle design is the seed that sprouted SOLZ.

For more information about SOLZ, please visit walkstreetmovement.com, solzshoes.com or contact Brad Carrick at brad@solzshoes.com or 415-986-7131.
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