The Umòja adventure was born in 2017. At the time, Dieuveil was a student at the University of Brest and Lancine was an insurance executive in Paris. In search of meaning and solutions to consumer trends, the two creators were already aware, with great concern, that they were very influenced by the codes of industrial overproduction with actors left on the sidelines. With this in mind, they decided to leave everything behind to embark on an adventure in an environment that they, two former college students, did not master. "When we left our professional lives, we had no idea of the great financial and social sacrifices that this new adventure would entail. This was especially true for Lancine, who was giving up a career and a comfortable salary for a project that might not see the light of day. They set themselves the mission of experimenting with an alternative economic model that would allow all the actors in the production chain to be paid a fair price, while respecting the ecological and social issues of our time. The objective was clear: to ensure a production that respects our environment (ecological, economic, human) in every way. Bag on the back, they then set out to meet the West African crafts: Burkina Faso, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mali while also taking advantage to pass by Congo and Uganda. Where they discovered the richness and plurality of craft skills. From Burkina Faso to France and Portugal, the brand bridges the gap between the different know-how to create singular and vegetable shoes. They meet with the best craftsmen to offer you sneakers that reflect a more virtuous globalization. The Umòja brand produces sneakers with the aim of having a positive impact on the environment. Ethical, aesthetic and responsible, their sneakers highlight the know-how of various African craftsmen.