From Doodles to Doorsteps: How a TQN Shoe Comes to Life
By Ambica Saxena· 3 min read
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.
- Hand-drawn concepts by our in-house designers
- Digital conversion & color calibration
- Print testing on breathable canvas
- Artisan-level cutting, pasting, stitching
- Strict quality checks before they ship to you
- 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.
