About Us
Our Story
NAGAST Footwear was born from a dream and a deep sense of purpose. Tarik Edmonson, a native of The Bronx, NY and raised in Savannah, GA, always envisioned building something meaningful. Inspired by Reginald Lewis — the first Black man to trade on the USA Stock Exchange — Tarik set out to create a business that would uplift his community.
Through a conversation with his daughter about the power of social media, Tarik began researching and investing in shoe design. He chose footwear because at the time, there were very few Black-owned shoe companies specializing in African and Egyptian-inspired designs. In 2015, NAGAST Footwear officially launched — and the rest is history.
Our Atlanta, GA headquarters serves as the home base for a brand that is much more than shoes. NAGAST Footwear is a movement.
Our Mission
We are excited to introduce footwear designed to uplift and create a positive outlook in the Black community. We are especially passionate about impacting thousands of youth and adults who are proud to wear fashionable, quality African-culture inspired shoes.
Our flagship styles — The Marcus Garvey Shoe and The Nat Turner African Runner Shoe — embody the total essence of our rich and proud heritage. By naming our shoes after such influential leaders, we spark dialogue and pride that allows future generations to continue learning about Black history.
NAGAST Footwear is a fashion-forward brand that attracts customers seeking innovation and quality. We are a trendy, stylish footwear brand mixed with a nostalgic, simplistic design — all in the same shoe. We listen closely to what our consumers are saying and focus on our community and products to ensure we are creating comfortable, top-quality footwear.
Ujamaa — Cooperative Economics
At the heart of NAGAST Footwear is the principle of Ujamaa, a Swahili word meaning "Extended Family" or "Brotherhood." Ujamaa is a concept of cooperative economics — where individuals and groups become empowered through the support of their entire community.
NAGAST Footwear works with groups, organizations, churches, and entrepreneurs to purchase and receive profits from each sale — building wealth together as a community. We believe that making great quality shoes and practicing philanthropy will impact the world for the better.
Mr. Edmonson's close connection with God drives his passion to help others as a philanthropist and community builder.
Build Your Own Shoe Brand
NAGAST Footwear empowers anyone to create their own custom shoe and sell it. We make it simple for anyone to become a shoe company or designer through our White Label and Private Label programs. Our wholesale program offers an accessible entry point for entrepreneurs ready to get into the footwear business.
For more information on customizing shoes or starting your own shoe brand, contact us at nagastfootwear@gmail.com or visit NagastFootwear.com.
Contact Us
📍 Atlanta, GA
📞 770-255-9333
📧 nagastfootwear@gmail.com
🌐 NagastFootwear.com