Weaving Culture and Entrepreneurship Together: Jocelyn’s Kiva Journey
We’re excited to announce the successful Kiva campaign of Jocelyn, founder of Gola Sweetgrass, a footwear brand creating sweetgrass sandals inspired by the traditional art of Gullah Geechee basket weaving.
Meet the Story Behind the Business
Growing up in Georgetown, South Carolina, Jocelyn developed a deep appreciation for the history, culture and traditions that connect people to their heritage.
As a descendant of the Gullah Geechee people of the Lowcountry, Jocelyn founded Gola Sweetgrass to combine her interests in cultural preservation, shoe design and entrepreneurship. Through her handcrafted sandals, she shares the story of sweetgrass artistry in a new and wearable form.
Today, Gola Sweetgrass reaches customers throughout the Lowcountry at vendor markets and cultural events, and through its online store. The sandals are also available in the gift shop at the International African American Museum.
As demand for her work continued to grow, Jocelyn began looking for ways to increase production while maintaining the quality and cultural authenticity at the heart of her business. She also envisioned offering sandal-making workshops that would give others an opportunity to engage with the tradition through a hands-on experience.
With guidance and support from the Lowcountry Kiva Hub, Jocelyn successfully and quickly secured a $7,500 loan. The funding will allow her to launch sandal-making classes, purchase sandal-making tools and materials, while strengthening her marketing and overall business operations.
Lowcountry Local First is proud to serve as a Kiva Trustee through the Lowcountry Kiva Hub. As a trusted community partner, we identify, endorse and offer support to small business owners who are ready to grow, helping them unlock 0% interest funding through Kiva.
Interested in launching your own Kiva campaign?