Letter From The Founder
First and foremost, I have to thank you for being here. I know you can be anywhere else in the world, but you’re here reading this, and that means everything to me. My name is Aaron Sharp. I was born in Los Angeles and raised in the City of Champions in Inglewood, California. I’m the son of two go-getters who taught me the importance of ownership and the significance of giving to others.
I went to Loyola High School, where I learned how to “be a man for others.” To me, being a man for others means sharing my most valuable asset, my time, with others - whether through mentoring, volunteering, helping someone through a challenging situation, or just lending an ear to someone that needs it; this philosophy is who I am.
After graduating high school, I went to college in New York, interned at Russell Simmons’ Rush Communications, became a professional model and actor, earned my real estate license at the age of 19, and then became a public servant at the age of 21. One day I discovered shockingly that not all shoes were created equal. I learned the difference between a cemented (glued) shoe and Goodyear welted shoes or Blake stitched shoes. I also realized I wasn’t the only one that didn’t have a clue about the most heavily used accessory in my wardrobe.
Most of my friends and acquaintances knew nothing about shoe construction or what makes a quality shoe. So, I set out to learn as much as possible about shoes (dress shoes in particular) in hopes of sharing what I learned with as many people as possible. Once I gained enough knowledge about shoes, I started seeing how many popular dress shoe companies were cutting corners and selling their products at inflated prices.
After countless hours of research and searching for the proper manufacturer, I built a relationship with a fantastic workshop in Spain. The working conditions were impeccable, and the artisans earned fair wages for years of experience in handcrafting shoes. This was extremely important to me. With the hustle instilled in me by my parents, the extreme belief that I could create a brand people would love, and the addition of those amazing artisans, I decided to start Mandeaux.
I created the brand Mandeaux, which roughly translates to "something mandatory, required, or essential." An example of something being Mandeaux is being kind to others. My mission is to provide affordable, luxury handcrafted shoes to people who make a positive difference daily. Loyalty is essential to me, so I developed a rewards program where discounts can be earned. Lastly, because I believe giving back is mandatory, a portion of all Mandeaux shoe purchases goes to charity. Welcome to the family!
I have an open-door policy, so if there is anything I can personally help with, send me an email at founder@mandeaux.com, and I’ll get back to you as soon as I can.
One of the best things about Mandeaux is our ability to spend more time on you, the individual customer. This means you're not just a number.
Thanks again for being here,