Peramor is an initiative of two young students from KEDGE Business School: Yassine and Vincent. Behind this Corsican-sounding name hides the pair of sneakers of tomorrow, designed with eco-responsible and 100% vegan materials. Focus on the creators of this ambitious project.
The portrait of young student-entrepreneurs
Could you go back to your academic career?
Vincent: I have a rather traditional academic background. I obtained an ES baccalaureate and then went to an ECE preparatory class, which allowed me to be admitted to KEDGE Business School. I am now in master 1, specializing in finance.
Yassine: For my part, I began my studies in the field of environmental safety, which allowed me to become aware of the issues of sustainable development very early on. I am now in master 1 at KEDGE Business School, specializing in finance, alongside Vincent.
How did you meet?
Yassine: We were in the same class at KEDGE. We met for the first time during the integration weekend organized by the school and, one thing led to another, we became friends and co-founders.
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Everything you need to know about Peramor
Could you introduce us to Peramor and its specificities?
Vincent: Peramor is a new generation sneaker brand! We have chosen not to use any animal materials: our shoes are designed with 100% vegan materials. They are made in Portugal with unique know-how. We also want to give an associative dimension to our project: for each pair of sneakers purchased, profits will then be donated to an association that will have previously been chosen by the buyer. Through this initiative, we want to allow everyone to contribute to a cause that is close to their heart.
Yassine: Our pairs of sneakers are made of apple leather and will be recyclable! It’s a way for us to present an alternative to animal leather.
How did Peramor come about?
Vincent: When we met, Yassine already had a sketch of an idea in mind, but nothing had yet come to fruition. We knew the field as consumers, but not as creators. It took us a while to figure out the market. We then moved on to the more theoretical part, with the help of the incubator, about the business model, the business plan, etc.
Yassine: We spent about a year and a half on the theoretical side of Peramor. It was very long, but we were well supported by KEDGE. And, this last year, we focused on creation: we are currently on our third prototype. We really want to achieve a perfect result.
“Our slogan? Born in Corsica, developed in Bordeaux and manufactured in Porto »
Where did the idea for a pair of 100% vegan sneakers come from?
Yassine: A few years ago, I attended an aperitif for creators at my home in Corsica, and I was very interested in all the projects, especially those that directly or indirectly touched on the environment. I told myself that I too had to develop something linked to my convictions.
Our slogan? Born in Corsica, developed in Bordeaux and manufactured in Porto. The name of the brand is no coincidence, Peramor means “for love” in Corsican. It is therefore also a tribute to my native region.
How do you manage to balance your schedule between KEDGE and entrepreneurship?
Vincent: I would say that KEDGE provides us with an academic environment conducive to entrepreneurship. Our teachings allow us to learn elements that are useful to us within the framework of Peramor, so we can easily reconcile the two. We are also supported by the KEDGE incubator, the Business Nursery.
Yassine: As a holder of national student-entrepreneur status, I am fortunate to be able to complete my 6-month study internship at Peramor. I will be able to delve into brand development full time and devote myself to our crowdfunding campaign. Furthermore, I would say that the timetable in business school is quite light, which allows us to easily free up personal work time.
Peramor: the fruit of an environmental commitment
Environmental protection seems to be at the heart of your concerns, could you tell us more about the origin of your materials?
Yassine: Our sneakers are made from recycled plastic from marine waste recovered from the Mediterranean. An industrialist then takes care of transforming this waste into textiles. We also work with apple leather harvested in Brazil and soles made in Portugal. We focused on short circuits, we didn’t want our shoes to travel the globe before being sold.
You told us a little earlier about winnings donated to associations, could you tell us a little more?
Yassine: Indeed, we want our buyers to be able to realize their commitments, whatever they may be. Thus, when purchasing their pair of Peramor sneakers, the buyer will be able to choose an association from a wide range and donate 10% of the cost of their shoes.
Many sites today offer to donate part of their earnings to an association, but buyers generally cannot choose which one. With Peramor, everyone will be able to decide which initiative they wish to support.
What about the sneaker recycling system?
Vincent: We offer two alternatives regarding the end of life of our shoes. If the pair of sneakers is in good condition, it can be donated to a charity and, if it is too worn, then it can be recycled. We will set up a system for returning worn pairs.
Yassine: It is important for us to move towards zero waste.
An upcoming crowdfunding campaign for Peramor
Where can we find pairs of Peramor sneakers?
Vincent: We will soon launch a crowdfunding campaign which will allow us to raise funds through pre-orders on our website. If we manage to reach 120 pre-orders, then we can be considered a sustainable brand and we will be able to sell our models in e-commerce. During the duration of the campaign, our website will serve as our showcase, where you will be able to find all our models.
Yassine: Our goal is to become a lasting brand and to find our place, little by little, among the big names in the sector: Nike, Adidas, etc. and why not then distribute our pairs in multi-brand stores. During our crowdfunding campaign, our goal will be to sell 120 pairs of pre-order sneakers, which will allow us to raise enough funds to launch production.
At what price can we find your models?
Yassine: When pre-ordering, prices will be staggered. The first 40 pairs will be priced at €99, the next 40 at €109 and the last 40 at €119. The first will therefore be the best served! If our campaign is successful, we will then sell them at €129 per pair in store. The price may further change depending on our cost price and the latest improvements to be made to the prototype.
Ambition, but a head on your shoulders
Do you already have new ideas for Peramor?
Yassine: Ultimately, we would like to have our own molds for the soles of our sneakers, which would allow us to invest our funds in new models and why not expand our scope to leather goods or ready-to-wear.
For the moment, we offer a model available in several colors: white with blue, red or even black details.
How do you imagine Peramor in 10 years?
Yassine: The project is still very young, it is still difficult to plan ahead at the moment. But we would very much like to find Peramor in major brands, Galeries Lafayette for example. Of course, it’s probably too ambitious, but we believe in our project! Perhaps one day, Peramor will be alongside major brands like Nike or Adidas in stores.
What can we wish you for the future?
Vincent: I hope to obtain my diploma and continue with Peramor, if the project is sustainable.
Yassine: It all depends on Peramor, I would love for it to become my profession, but if that’s not the case, why not go into finance. The future will tell us!
