Modern Hippie of the Month: Cause Haun of See Kai Run

Modern Hippie Feature – Cause Haun of See Kai Run Talks to MHM about Healthy, Good-Lookin’ Kids’ Footwear

Cause Haun and her husband Gang Chen are the founders of See Kai Run®, a children’s footwear company focused on offering

both style and healthy comfort. After the birth of their first son, Kai, for whom the company is named, Cause became frustrated by what was available and was motivated to be a pioneer in the industry, developing kids’ shoes that were not only “fun and sophisticated” but also uncompromising in safety and support for little ones’ developing feet. Thus, in 2004, See Kai Run® was born, starting at small boutiques in the Seattle area to great acclaim and growing at an impressive rate. The shoes can now be found across the country and even the world, including in countries such as China, Israel, and New Zealand. Each of their shoe designs has received the American Podiatric Medical Association’s Seal of Acceptance, and the company now has three categories of footwear, addressing the needs of different ages: Smaller (0 to 24 months), See Kai Run (6 months to 3 years), and a new line, Kai (2 to 6 years), coming August of this year.

Here’s what one tester mom had to say:

“My son has pretty much only worn Smaller and See Kai Run shoes. The shoes really hit the mark… He seems to be so comfortable in them, and the styles are so unique without being over the top. I think my husband wishes they made dad versions! J I’m psyched to hear that they’re expanding to the bigger kid shoes so I can keep my little guy looking stylish and feeling comfy as he starts school in a couple of years!”

Here’s what Cause had to say to Modern Hippie Mag about the company, its charities, the shoes, and how See Kai Run® fits the modern hippie mentality…

What did you do before starting See Kai Run?

I have a degree in International Business and spent most of my career working with non-profit educational foundations to bring international exchange students to host families in the U.S.

How did you go about launching the company?

It was a small project at the beginning.  I had the idea to sell these great shoes to local boutiques and consignment stores in Seattle. It literally exploded across the country within months, and I thank my lucky stars every day!

What’s involved in creating shoes that look good, are made well, and are good for kids’ feet?

Ensuring they are good for kids’ feet has been figured out. Our shoe shapes are wide enough to allow the toes to fully spread out. The soles are made in a way that allows the most flexibility while protecting feet from the elements. The choice of leather uppers with leather lining makes the shoes breathable for those sweaty little feet. We make sure the collars and tongues are padded to prevent any red spots or “break-in period.” There should never be a break-in period needed for shoes!

I also believe we’ve done a very good job ensuring our shoes are made well. They have a hand-crafted quality to them, and our quality assurance program is quite rigorous. Because of that we have a very low defective rate and completely stand behind our product.

The most fun part is creating a shoe that looks “good.” I do my best to design shoes that I would want to see on the shelf and buy for my children. Part of the reason I took a chance in starting See Kai Run was that I did not see a lot of footwear on the market that appealed to me. I try to create unusual color combinations and styles to offer another choice to parents!

What are the materials used in the shoes?

We use a combination of different types of all-natural leather for the uppers and for the lining. We ensure that the meet all of the non-toxicity requirements in the U.S. and in all parts of the world, including the more stringent EU standards.

What is required to become approved by the APMA?

A lot! From their website: “The APMA Seal of Acceptance Program recognizes products which have been found beneficial to foot health and of significant value when used in a consistently applied program of daily foot care and regular professional treatment. The Seal is awarded to a product after the Committee on Podiatric Seals, a standing committee of the APMA, scientifically evaluates and determines whether the product allows normal foot function and promotes quality foot health. Additionally, evidence of usefulness and safety must be established, either by an appropriately recognized laboratory or clinical investigation, or by the product’s meeting certain physical standards applicable to materials, footwear, insoles, hosiery, equipment, or pharmaceuticals. Companies must provide research documentation, information on intended use, patents, composition, and evidence of quality control procedures for each product. A detailed scientific evaluation is conducted by each committee member on every product. The committee then sends its recommendation to the APMA Board of Trustees, which has the authorization to either accept or reject the recommendation.”

Your Smaller, soft-soled line ends at 24 months, and the See Kai Run, harder-soled line starts at 6-9 months. Why the overlap here? What do you recommend for parents when they’re looking to buy either from the Smaller or See Kai Run lines for a 6- to 24-month old?

The choice between Smaller and See Kai Run is really about the function required by your little walker or pre-walker. If your little one had not learned to walk well or is just getting started walking, Smaller is the best choice. It provides the most flexibility while those muscles are still developing. The rubber sole runs throughout the length of the shoe, with two pads poking through the suede to provide traction. The Smaller sole provides enough protection for light outdoor use. You would want to choose the See Kai Run line when your little one is spending a lot of time walking or running outdoors.

What has your charitable involvement been like?  I know you donate to Soles4Souls – How did you select Soles4Souls as one of the charities you participate in?

When I heard about Soles4Souls, I thought it was a perfect fit (no pun intended)! It is an awesome organization that started with a real, tangible need. There are 300 million children in the world who have never owned a pair of shoes. And it’s really not about comfort – it’s a matter of preventing injury and disease. Children in some parts of the world must walk through very dangerous environments.

Soles4Souls was started by a former footwear executive who knew about all the waste in the footwear industry: overstock, samples, getting put in landfills! He has grown this organization that collects unwanted footwear, both new and used, and delivers it to people who can use it. See Kai Run has donated thousands of pairs over the years, starting over four years ago. Give them your unwanted shoes (www.soles4souls.org)! J They will be put to good use!

We also donate to local organizations. One in particular speaks to me: Westside Baby (www.westsidebaby.org). They work with social service agencies around King County (where Seattle is) and collect new and used clothing and gear for children who need them. Another big focus for them is collecting diapers for babies. Fortunately, our government-assistance programs help with food for children, but unfortunately, not with the necessity of diapers. You can imagine what that would do for a struggling family to not be able to have diapers. It has a ripple effect on the family’s entire well-being.

How does See Kai Run embody the “modern hippie” way of thinking?

That’s a great question. Well, most obviously, we want to create footwear that is appealing to individuals unsatisfied with the status quo of children’s footwear, i.e., offering more sophisticated and unusual designs than what is widely available. I try to push the envelope a bit each season. We have created a great company environment – a small group of committed employees that are excited by what they do. I believe we’ve fostered this environment by encouraging our employees to truly be themselves. We’ve allowed our employees to bring their babies to work for up to one year, and that has also fostered an environment of humanity and spontaneity. It’s hard to take yourself too seriously when there is a baby in your midst! And our company donates at least five percent of our profits to charities helping children.

Lastly, what do Kai and Ocean (Cause’s children) say about the shoes?  Do they have any input in the new designs?

They’ve always been around shoes. Whenever I make a comment about two colors looking nice together, Kai’s retort is, “Why don’t you make a shoe with those colors?” And Ocean is currently learning his way around Photoshop “designing” shoes. It’s fun!

Ellie P. Campbell‘s eco-interests range from natural and organic foods to skincare products, clothing and other useful gear. She is a freelance photographer, editor, writer and graphic designer. Find her beautiful photography at www.elliepcampbellphotography.com. 

Modern Hippie of the Month: Cause Haun of See Kai Run is a post from: Modern Hippie Mag

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