Bhupinder Singh Kharbanda, the visionary behind Jazba Sports and SOLM8, shares his remarkable journey from sketching sneakers as a child in Delhi to revolutionizing the cricket footwear industry.
Bhupinder’s story is not just about creating a global brand but also about overcoming adversity, embracing cultural diversity, and remaining steadfast in pursuit of passion.
With his roots in a modest Indian middle-class family, Bhupinder’s early fascination with design led him to become the largest cricket shoe manufacturer in the world. His journey through India, China, and finally the United States, where he established Jazba Sports and later SOLM8, is a testament to innovation, resilience, and the relentless pursuit of excellence.
Can you share more about your early days and what initially sparked your passion for sneaker design?
My childhood is from a modest normal Indian middle class family, which didn’t think too far ahead and focussed more on trying to make a living and surviving the post partition crisis after moving to Delhi, India from Sialkot, Pakistan. My grandfather used to run a company that made hockey sticks back in Sialkot. Today I can reconnect to that legacy maybe as I make cricket shoes and that city was the sports goods capital of India (pre-Independence era). Maybe I think our professional leanings are also genetic, haha probably not, but I do know my father was shedding tears the day he saw my shipment of shoes packed in China to be dispatched to Sialkot for a brand I did OEM for at the time. That made me proud of my achievement of having become the largest Cricket shoe manufacturer in the world and probably the only largest and most successful cricket shoe designer in the world who dominated the market with his creative products made for 10+ brands for almost a decade.
From the moment I could hold a piece of chalk in my hand, I was already shaping my future. At the tender age of 5 or 6, I would sprawl out on the floor, letting my imagination run wild as I sketched crude shapes that vaguely resembled birds or abstract animals. It was an innocent pastime, one that caught the eye of my father. Witnessing my raw creativity, he upgraded my canvas from the floor to real paper and pencils, igniting a spark that would shape the course of my life.
As I grew older, so did my passion for art. By the time I was 8 years old, I was already delving into more complex drawings, exploring landscapes, portraits, and whatever else captured my young imagination. Yet, it wasn’t until I reached the age of 12 that I stumbled upon my true calling: sneakers and cars. Immersed in the world of animation, I began to understand the nuances of proportions, emotions, and the play of light and shadow. My fascination with cars led me to fill my school notebooks and scrapbooks with intricate car sketches, each stroke of the pen a testament to my burgeoning passion.
High school became a breeding ground for curiosity. Every Sunday, you could find me eagerly scouring the 2nd-hand book market in Old Delhi, hunting for foreign sneaker magazines that offered glimpses into a world of patterns, shapes, and designs. Among my three favorite subjects in art – Automobile Design, European Renaissance Paintings (with Caravaggio reigning as my all-time favorite Italian painter), and Sneaker Design – it was the latter that truly captured my heart. The overlapping silhouettes, intricate patterns, and sleek designs of sneakers sparked a fire within me, fueling endless imagination and countless sketches of my own reinterpretations.
Despite the well-meaning advice from those around me urging me towards engineering for a career in automotive design, I knew deep down that my strengths lay elsewhere. Math and physics may have been necessary for some, but for me, design was an art form, a language of expression that transcended numbers and equations. It wasn’t until my final year of high school that I stumbled upon a revelation: fashion design. With footwear being an integral part of fashion, I realized that this was the path that would allow me to fuse my passion for design with my love for sneakers, while also immersing myself in the worlds of fashion literature and industrial design.
Armed with determination and an ever-growing collection of sketches, I embarked on a journey to prepare myself for fashion school, where I would refine my skills, nurture my creativity, and ultimately turn my childhood dreams into a vibrant reality.
I was creative yes from a young age, but didn’t have the resources and had to learn to fend for myself from a young age. My struggles are not unique and many people from the Indian subcontinent of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in fact vast majority of people from developing countries have similar struggles. What I learnt from when I look back today is the most important is focus, clarity, hardwork and determination.
From drawing sneakers on scraps of newspaper to establishing a premier cricket shoe manufacturing unit in China, can you walk us through the pivotal moments of your career?
In 1998, fresh out of the National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), I found myself at a crossroads. Despite my passion for footwear design, I realized that India was lagging behind in the global sneaker game. The designs I had envisioned since childhood were nowhere to be found on the shelves, and India was just beginning to open its doors to international brands.
My first job opportunity came knocking at the same company where I had completed my college project. It was a humble beginning, but it ignited a fire within me to push the boundaries of traditional footwear design. However, I soon realized that my aspirations for creating hardcore performance sneakers were limited by the resources and market constraints in India.
In the early 2000s, fueled by a thirst for design inspiration and exposure, I embarked on a journey from West to East, seeking new opportunities. Despite my dedication to the Indian company for eight years, my career remained tethered to the realm of fashion casual and semi-casual leather shoes, crafted with traditional methods and materials that I deemed outdated. But, yes during these years I built a strong foundation by being the head of development at atender age of 21 years and travelling to Italy, UK, Germany, China extensively to understand product manufacturing, trends, markets and consumers world wide.
In 2006, craving a new challenge, I made the bold decision to leave my job and venture into uncharted territory. I packed my bags and set my sights on China, where I joined forces with a trading company to establish my own design facility. This venture aimed not only to facilitate trade and sourcing but also to unleash the full potential of Chinese manufacturing skills in creating customized footwear lines.
However, my initial foray into the Chinese market faced challenges. It wasn’t until 2008 that I found a like-minded partner who shared my vision for innovation and growth. Together, we transformed a modest single-room office into a thriving business that spanned across multiple industries. Over the course of a decade, our company burgeoned from a team of four to a workforce of 400, establishing ourselves as the largest cricket shoe manufacturer in China by 2015. By this time I was to go to design creative and technical resource for any and most cricket shoe equipment brands such as Kookaburra, Grays, CA, SG etc.
Despite our success, I couldn’t shake the feeling of lack of fulfilment while our business prospered, The company had reached a turnover of 15-20 million USD but I yearned to reconnect with my passion for pure design and to serve the end-user directly. This desire led me to take a leap of faith in 2016 and launch my own intellectual property, Jazba, with the aim of revolutionising the cricket shoe market.
Jazba quickly gained traction, emerging as a popular brand within its niche and expanding its footprint to over a dozen countries within just four years. During this pivotal period, my wife Jasmine recognized the potential of our venture and joined me as a key team member, contributing her expertise to propel our sports brand to greater heights. Jazba went on to the feet of International players at the ICC World Cup in 2019. The players loved the shoes and wore them not for sponsorship money but for their comfort, performance boosting features and custom fits. This I feel was Jasmine and my great achievement to make a footwear brand from the east called ‘Jazba’ to connect with the entire cricket community in every nation from West to East.
From the corridors of NIFT to the bustling streets of China, my journey in the footwear industry has been a testament to perseverance, innovation, and the relentless pursuit of passion. Through every triumph and tribulation, I’ve remained steadfast in my commitment to pushing the boundaries of design and leaving an indelible mark on the world of sports footwear.
I till date have 20+ Footwear Design copyrights, 15+ outsole design patents in my name in China. I have designed cricket shoe outsoles from scratch incorporating 3D printing for the first time in our industry as far back as 2015. I have always wanted to not be a me too copy brand but a designer whose brand is based on complete understanding of foot ergonomics, technical material utilisation, production possibilities, performance requirements, design aesthetics and market/ consumer led price structures.Footwear is one product that I say is far more complex than most fashion products as it is far more functional than others and needs to blend that aspect with design that looks good.
Could you tell us the story behind the founding of Jazba Sports and the vision you and Jasmine Sethi Kharbanda had for the brand?
Jazba Sports was born from a vision to cater to the immense cricket-loving community from the sub-continent, particularly in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, as we navigated the complexities of these markets, including tax intricacies and bureaucratic hurdles, we realized the need to pivot towards more mature and developed economies with a friendlier business environment.
North America emerged as an ideal launchpad for our brand, boasting a substantial population of over 10 million expats from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. With Jasmine’s astute understanding and strategic utilization of social media and communication channels, we swiftly gained traction, propelling Jazba into the limelight. Our goal was clear: to challenge the misconception that only heritage brands with decades-long experience in cricket equipment could excel in the market. We knew that our expertise lay in footwear, and we were determined to provide customers with high-quality alternatives at competitive prices.
Our shoes quickly gained recognition for their superior design and quality, positioning us as a viable alternative to global giants like Adidas, Puma, and New Balance. This unique positioning allowed us to carve out a niche above traditional equipment manufacturers and below mainstream brands, capturing a significant share of the premium footwear market.
Despite Jazba Sports being established in 2019, our journey faced a setback in 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent business challenges in China. At this point we had to shut down working on our brand Jazba. However, in 2021, we regrouped and re-established ourselves under a new intellectual property, SOLM8. Since its inception, SOLM8 has experienced rapid growth, becoming the fastest-growing cricket footwear brand in North America and achieving bestseller status on platforms like Amazon USA and UAE.
With a 30% growth rate since its launch, SOLM8 is poised for further expansion. Our commitment to innovation, style, and customer-centric design has resonated with enthusiasts and casual players alike, positioning SOLM8 not just as a performance-driven brand but also as a fashion-forward icon in the cricket world.
Looking ahead, we are confident with Jasmine’s market understanding and foresight and my (BSK’s) creative approach SOLM8 will continue its trajectory of success, with plans to introduce more innovative product lines and solidify our position as the go-to brand for cricket enthusiasts worldwide. Our journey is a testament to resilience, adaptability, and the unwavering pursuit of excellence in cricket footwear design.
Jazba means passion in persian and we truly believe as a team that if we do what we do with passion and commitment, the results follow.
How do you balance the need for style, performance, and affordability in your footwear designs?
Solm8 embodies years of expertise in footwear design, meticulously selecting materials integral to our design philosophy. Infusing bold and vibrant colors, we maintain simplicity in our designs, incorporating tried-and-tested technologies from the industry. Our meticulous attention extends to understanding the vital figures in material specifications and testing, pivotal elements that significantly enhance performance.
This knowledge has been cultivated through extensive manufacturing and design experience of 25+ years, drawing insights from user feedback to continually refine our products. As we transition into a more direct-to-consumer business model, our learning curve accelerates, with firsthand feedback from end-users shaping our innovations. Listening to our customers is paramount, and we consistently strive to enhance our products, keeping the core aspects of design and functionality intact.
Affordability is a cornerstone of our approach. As a nimble organization, we can make swift decisions and implement changes rapidly. By maintaining lower operational costs and abstaining from large expenditures on celebrity marketing, we ensure that our resources are allocated to what truly matters: delivering high-quality products. Our engagement with key players occurs through social media, allowing us to comprehend their challenges and offer tailored solutions.
I would also like to say affordability needs to be understood with different sensibility. If we can create a product that performs better due to its construction or materials that are chosen for their unique performance features, we save on high development costs of hit and trial. Of Course this is a result of the experienced team which gets passed onto the brand. We also save if we are able to give a good quality product as the cost gets divided by the usage time. Affordability is also based on competition in market and we feel SOLM8 is unique in its design so more affordable as there is not much to compare with.
Our overarching goal is to provide superior quality and ensure that every user experiences satisfaction without any sense of inferiority when associating with our brand. This commitment underscores our dedication to creating footwear that not only performs exceptionally but resonates with the diverse needs and preferences of our valued customers.
Having navigated between India, China, and the USA, how have these diverse cultural experiences influenced your work and business philosophy?
Since childhood, my fascination with diverse cultures and lifestyles has been a driving force in my life. When I was young I always use to be fascinated by small toys and stationary which during that time was mostly made in China. It captured my imagination early on, sparking a passion for collecting figurines as a hobby. In 1999, my travels took me to Italy, where I was enchanted by the seamless blend of ancient heritage with modern design sensibilities.
However, it was in 2001, during my first journey to the East, that I was truly awestruck. China’s vastness and boundless creativity in manufacturing and design left an indelible mark on me. The experience fueled my innate curiosity for different cuisines, fashion, and cultural nuances, shaping me into an open-minded individual eager to learn and embrace new experiences.
The decision to move to China was a culmination of years of influence and exploration. Despite the initial language barrier, I leveraged my open-minded approach to forge new friendships, establish business connections, and build a team from scratch. India, with its rich heritage and strong sense of identity, provided me with a solid foundation upon which to adapt and thrive in my new environment.
In 2019, my journey led me to the United States, where I gained fresh perspectives and insights. Compared to my experiences in China, I found the US to be more welcoming and conducive to fitting in. It was during this time that I realised the potential of establishing my own intellectual property in the US, particularly in California. With its cultural influence and reputation for innovation, I saw an opportunity to create a brand that resonated with people on a personal level, offering them superior alternatives to the products of their childhood.
Since then, our focus has been on solidifying this vision, building a brand that not only connects with people but also serves as a beacon of quality and innovation. By leveraging the cultural influence of the US and the unique experiences gained from my global travels, we are committed to creating products that evoke nostalgia while offering unmatched quality and functionality.
In conclusion India gave me resilience, a spiritual calmness, China gave me speed and reactive energy, USA gave me the confidence to feel secure in capitalism and innovation as they provide the base to do any good in life for yourself or others.
Facing the closure of Jazba due to business fraud must have been incredibly challenging. How did you and Jasmine Sethi Kharbanda overcome this period, and what lessons did you learn?
Man, things were looking up, you know? We were riding high on the success of our new brands, Jazba (all about cricket vibes) and Uniqers (pushing the boundaries in art and fashion-forward footwear). We were hitting up global exhibitions, expanding our reach to multiple selling fronts, and hustling hard to amp up our social media game with this young and pumped-up team back in China.
Then came November 2019, a month I’ll never forget. I jetted off to the US, ready to seal the deal with some bigwig meetings to introduce our brand. I even lined up a sit-down at the West Indies headquarters in the Caribbean to ink an 18-month deal to be their official footwear partners. Plus, I was pumped to hit up this massive national hockey festival down in Tempe, Florida. Everything was going according to plan, you know? Successful meetings, promising outcomes – I was ready to head back to China and share the good news with my partner.
But when I got back, it was like walking into a whole different world. My partner hit me with a bombshell – no funds left to keep the operations going. Suddenly, I was in the middle of a legal battleground, fighting tooth and nail just to keep a foothold in my own business. It was gut-wrenching, man. My family was threatened, my daughters scared out of their minds – we were foreigners in our own home, with nowhere to turn. But amidst all this I would say basic human values of support, love, encouragement, prayer from all friends, family and work associates helped us float through this period, not with ease, it was rough waters but we didn’t drown. It is worth seeing our Jazba Sports support video on our website jazbasports.com Good support and belief in you from others can make you achieve stuff of dreams.
And then 2020 hit, with the whole Covid chaos. We were bleeding cash just to keep afloat, couldn’t even think about legal advice with everything in China grinding to a halt. But you know what? We dug deep, started a new venture called Turnmile Design, rallying our ex-employees who had our backs through thick and thin. Some even worked for us at half pay for a whole year – talk about loyalty.
But the toughest part? Trying to convince folks to give our new brand, Solm8, a chance. It was like fighting an uphill battle, especially with the shadow of our first brand’s success looming large. But hey, in 2022, things started looking up. Sales of Solm8 shot through the roof, and people finally started warming up to our new product.
Lesson learned, folks: nothing in this world is set in stone. Trust no one blindly, keep your IP locked down tight, and always, always stay humble. It’s the folks who stick by you when the going gets tough that truly matter.
Looking ahead, what are your long-term goals for Jazba Sports and SOLM8?
Jazba Sports is set to lead the charge as our primary operational hub, serving as the cornerstone for our ventures such as Solm8 and Set & Done. Our vision is to broaden our horizons and venture into new markets like Canada, the UK, and Australia. We’re honing our products to meet the unique needs of these markets, with an eye towards eventually establishing shoe assembly operations in the USA. Imagine, shoes customised to match team colours or specific sports academies – that’s the dream we’re working towards in the long run.
But that’s not all. We’re not stopping at footwear. We’ve got plans to roll out performance clothing designed to enhance and protect athletes in the near future. It’s all about expanding our portfolio and offering a comprehensive range of products to meet the demands of our customers.
And hey, we’re not content with just cricket. We’re setting our sights on diversifying into other sports too. From pickleball to baseball and golf, we’re exploring every avenue to bring our innovative designs and top-notch quality to athletes across the board.
So buckle up, folks. Jazba Sports is just getting started, and we’ve got big plans on the horizon. Stay tuned for an exciting journey ahead!
Throughout your journey, how has your definition of success evolved?
Good question I must say, in my initial years success was travelling, visiting museums, factories, learning, absorbing knowledge like a sponge to spew it out later.
Over the years success became numbers, being the shoe designer with maximum cricket shoe designs done, being the biggest volume cricket shoe manufacturer, opening a factory with 400 workers, turnover in millions of dollars. But then, I learnt numbers don’t last. When you run a race to be number one there will always be more numbers and they will keep inter changing.
That’s when we realised, success isn’t just about numbers on a balance sheet – it’s about the recognition of our ideas by the end user and the love they show by spreading the word. It’s about building a financially secure company, yes, but only so that it can expand without relying on external support, giving us the freedom to experiment and innovate in our business.
We believe that your user data is one of your most valuable assets, and we’re committed to leveraging technology to stay connected with our customers and make ourselves more accessible to them. Success isn’t something that happens overnight; it takes patience, perseverance, and a strong belief in what you’re doing. But most importantly, it’s about enjoying the journey and staying positive every step of the way. Because at the end of the day, success isn’t just about reaching your goals – it’s about the joy and fulfillment you find along the way.
Absolutely, staying focused on the bigger goal is key. Minor hurdles are just part of the journey, and overcoming them only makes us smarter and more humble. They’re opportunities for growth and learning, teaching us valuable lessons along the way. So, keep your eyes on the prize and don’t let those bumps in the road derail you from your path. Stay focused, stay determined, and you’ll reach that bigger goal in due time.
From the editor…
Bhupinder Singh Kharbanda’s narrative is a powerful reminder of how passion, creativity, and resilience can transform challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth. From his early days sketching on scraps of paper to leading the cricket footwear industry with Jazba Sports and SOLM8, Bhupinder’s journey is an inspiration to aspiring entrepreneurs worldwide.
Despite facing significant challenges, including the closure of Jazba due to business fraud, Bhupinder and his partner, Jasmine Sethi Kharbanda, have continued to thrive, focusing on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. Looking ahead, Jazba Sports and SOLM8 are poised for further expansion, exploring new markets and diversifying into other sports, all while staying true to their mission of providing superior footwear.
Bhupinder’s story underscores the power of passion, the importance of innovation, and the impact of perseverance in overcoming obstacles to achieve success.
Discover more about Bhupinder Singh Kharbanda’s journey and his brands:
