From the Ballroom to a Brand of His Own. Growing Taller in Life and Business
www.posiv.cz ǀ 59
POSITIV MAN
Your story began on quite a personal note – it was
your partner’s heels and the height difference that
eventually led to launching your own premium shoe
brand. When did it first occur to you that a personal
need could become a business?
It first struck me that very evening after the ball. I had
put several leather inserts into my shoes to even out
the height difference next to my wife. It worked – but it
was far from comfortable. I knew I couldn’t go on like
that. And then it hit me – if I’m dealing with this, I can’t
be the only one. That was the first moment when
a personal experience started shaping into a tangible
business idea.
Shoemaking is a craft where skills, design, and materials
all play a key role – and yet you didn’t study any
of it. What was the hardest part for you, as a lawyer,
in breaking into a completely different world?
Probably the fact that I had to learn everything on the
go. The hardest part was finding quality manufacturers
who would understand our vision and be willing
to work with us long-term. I also had to get to grips with
the terminology and processes, learn to understand
shoe construction, and figure out how to work with both
designers and shoemakers. But fashion has fascinated
me since I was a kid, so I already had a natural feel for
shoemaking.
If you had to name one thing that surprised you
most when starting a business – both in a good way
and a bad way – what would it be?
I was positively surprised by how powerful customer
feedback can be. When people send us photos from
their weddings and tell us they felt amazing in our
shoes, it’s genuinely moving. On the negative side?
Probably how quickly your plans can fall apart when
you don’t have full control over production. Our first
experience manufacturing in Vietnam was a tough
lesson, but it pushed us to move production closer
to home here in Europe.
Do you remember the moment when you first
thought: “Now I know we’re on the right track”?
Yes, it was the moment we stopped relying solely
on formal events and managed to break through with
casual models as well. When orders for sneakers started
coming in during the pandemic, I realised the concept
had broader appeal and real potential.
Today, DOPHAM‘S has a firm place in the market.
If you had to highlight one thing that got you
to where you are now – what would it be? And what
do you think gives DOPHAM‘S the potential for
continued growth?
What brought us to where we are today is, above all,
our personal passion for DOPHAM’S and the way
we treat every customer individually. I wear our shoes
every single day, I test them, and I consider myself our
most demanding customer. We fine-tune every new
model until I’m fully satisfied with it. That’s what allows
us to keep improving both the quality and the comfort
of our shoes.
As for growth potential – I believe there are still so many
men (and women) out there who haven’t heard of this
kind of solution yet – and once they try it, they’ll fall
in love with it.
Do you have a clear vision in your mind of where you
want to take DOPHAM‘S? What’s the big goal that
keeps driving you forward?
We want to be the first choice in Europe for anyone
looking for high-quality height-increasing shoes.
We want DOPHAM’S to be synonymous with a discreet
and functional solution for men who want to gain a few
extra centimetres – with elegance and comfort.
Are you also thinking about creating a women’s
collection alongside the men’s range one day?
Yes. We’ve worked on it in the past, but right now
we’re focusing on our main men’s collection. That said,
there’s definitely strong interest from women. It’s one
of the directions we could take in the future.
We ne-tune every new model
unl I’m fully sased with it.