From Doodles to Doorsteps: How a TQN Shoe Comes to Life - The Quirky Naari

From Doodles to Doorsteps: How a TQN Shoe Comes to Life

Every Quirky Naari shoe has a story — and so does the brand.

Before we built a bold, print-happy footwear brand loved across India, we were just an idea… and a paintbrush.

This is the behind-the-scenes story of how we went from hand-painting shoes in Mathura to building a homegrown fashion label featured on Shark Tank India — one that delivers thousands of expressive slip-ons to women across the country.

🎨 Where It All Started: One Brushstroke at a Time

Back in 2017, The Quirky Naari began with nothing but a dream, a handful of blank canvas shoes, and a whole lot of paint-stained ambition.

We were one of the first few in India to start handpainting custom shoes — turning everyday footwear into walking art.

Each pair was:

  • Carefully illustrated
  • Painted freehand
  • Packed with personality

But while the shoes were full of love, life behind the brush was tough.

🛣️ From Mathura to Delhi: A Journey Full of Stumbles & Strength

Building a fashion brand out of Mathura — a small city with limited resources and zero “startup vibes” — wasn’t just challenging, it was almost impossible.

  • No fancy studios. Just a small room and big ideas.
  • No network. Just word-of-mouth and handmade hustle.
  • No backup. Just belief.

We juggled painting, packaging, customer service, and courier runs — all in a town where people barely believed this could be a business.

But that’s where Delhi entered the picture.
Shifting our base meant access to better materials, production setups, exposure, and a chance to scale.
Still, growth was slow. Failures were frequent. Delays were stressful. But the dream? Unshakable.

🔄 When Art Met Reality: The Printed Pivot

Our painted shoes were beautiful — but they couldn’t keep up with demand.
We were turning down orders we didn’t have the bandwidth for. Every delivery came with pressure and burnout.

After almost a year of trial-and-error, ruined samples, and near quitting points, we made the big leap:
From handpainted to high-quality printed shoes.

But our designs? Still hand-drawn. Still 100% original.
Just now printed with better precision, more consistency, and the ability to serve more Naari(s) than ever.

🦈 And Then Came Shark Tank: The Game Changer

2023 changed everything.

Walking into the Shark Tank India pitch wasn’t just a moment — it was a milestone.
We weren’t just telling our story, we were telling the story of every small-town girl who dared to dream big.

Shark Tank gave us:

  • Visibility across the country
  • Validation of our vision
  • A massive boost in reach, trust, and community

Suddenly, The Quirky Naari wasn’t just a brand — it was a movement.
Orders poured in. Collaborations kicked off. Our team grew. Our factory scaled.
But our values? Still grounded in where we started — Mathura

🖨️ What Goes Into Every TQN Shoe Today

We’ve come a long way from paintbrushes, but each shoe still holds that same soul.

  1. Hand-drawn concepts by our in-house designers
  2. Digital conversion & color calibration
  3. Print testing on breathable canvas
  4. Artisan-level cutting, pasting, stitching
  5. Strict quality checks before they ship to you
  6. Eco-friendly packaging — always

From sketch to slip-on — nothing is mass, everything is personal.

🤝 Still Handmade. Still Homegrown. Still Honest.

Yes, the process has evolved. But our heart hasn’t.

  • Still made in India
  • Still supporting small artisans and ethical manufacturing
  • Still building a space for women to wear their personality — proudly

From doodles in Mathura to slip-ons in Shark Tank, it’s been a journey of resilience, risk, and realness.

💌 To Every Naari Who Believed in Us — You Made This Possible

If you bought our early handpainted pairs, thank you.
If you found us post-Shark Tank, welcome to the family.
If you’ve been cheering from the sidelines — we see you. We feel you.

We are because of YOU.

Ready to Step Into the Story?

Find your solemate from our latest collection — packed with comfort, creativity, and character.
Designed in India. Made for the world. Powered by Naari energy.