About a year after its launch, Puerto Rico-based Sandrysabel Ortiz still elicits surprise when she drops the name of her fashion accessory, Heel Condoms. But it has worked to her advantage. She confides that fashion blogs and websites wasted no time in discussing the accessory on their platforms and the publicity helped. Today, Ortiz’s Heel Condoms are available in 19 countries and in India, on the website, bestylish.com. For the uninitiated, Heel Condoms are not really heel protectors for the rain. But they give your stilettos a facelift with feather, satin, leather, velvet and lace touches. More from the 24-year-old designer who plans to increase distribution worldwide and start a non profit organisation to support young entrepreneurs.We know that your travels inspired this accessory. Tell us more.As a Latina, we tend to plan 20 outfits for a two-day trip. I could not fit 10 pairs of shoes in my luggage. That led me to thinking about dressing up my shoes for each outfit.Some people like the name, and some hate it. Please comment.I had not chosen a name for this invention when I started describing it to a friend and she replied, ‘Yes, I get it…like a condom!’ Right then I knew I had to name it Heel Condoms. I knew that it would become viral. People tend to love what’s taboo.From finance to fashion, how challenging was the transition for you?I don’t have a fashion major background. I was an investment banking intern on Wall Street. So with reference to handling the operations of my business, it was a blessing to have a financial background. Meeting people in the fashion industry was more of a challenge. What is new with Heel Condoms?From leather with studs and lace with flowers, we strive to please every customer in our book. We have named some of our designs “Heel Panties” because they only dress up the upper part of the shoe, leaving the heel uncovered. You have two options to attach Heel Condoms: you can either step on the elastic to keep (the decoration) in place or get creative with the way you tie the ribbons around your shoe.Any plans to visit India?It is definitely on my bucket list. I saw a Brazilian soap opera, India, Una Historia de Amor, which made me fall in love with Indian culture to the point where I have even bought myself a kundan necklace. Ortiz’s Heel Condoms are priced between `999 and `1,499. Available online on bestylish.com
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