Detroit Law Student Hits Big Time Keeping Feet Dry With 5 Water Socks
DETROIT (WWJ) - A Wayne State University law student is getting his feet wet in the business world -- by making sure others' feet remain dry.
It all started at the University of Michigan, when then-student Jaspreet Singh was supposed to pitch a product to classmates as part of a public speaking assignment.
"I was late to class so I started running and I stepped in a puddle on the way, sat down, my feet were soaked," and the light bulb went on, Singh told WWJ's Sandra McNeill.
Singh, 23, pitched his idea of water-resistant socks to the class and just like that, an idea was born. But it took quite some time before the thought turned into a reality.
"It started off with Google, and then from there I looked for different fabrics stores, fabric suppliers around the country. I realized that you can't take fabric and just turn it into socks -- you have to start with yarns," he said. "That's one of the reasons why water-resistant socks like these don't exists yet."
Singh established a fundraiser online, gathering more than $20,000 in donations.
"That was the way we were able to fund our first batch of inventory," he said. "We launched in June of this summer and we had a goal of raising $10,000 and in 31 days, we ended up doubling that."
Singh decided to name the product "5 Water Socks" for Michigan's five Great Lakes and his family's native land of five rivers -- Punjab, India.
Made of hydrophobic yarns, the socks won't work if your feet are completely submerged -- they're not 100 percent waterproof. But they are water-resistant and will repel rain and other forms of dousing.
The socks cost $22 a pair and will begin shipping out in October. For more information, visit 5watersocks.com.