On 15 July 2014, a bold dream took physical form in the shape of a single signature. That was the day Theo Baloyi, Bathu’s now-renowned founder and Brand Executive Officer (BEO), registered a company that would soon walk its way into the hearts, and onto the feet, of thousands across Africa. What seemed like a routine business registration was, in fact, a moment of defiance. Against the odds, against the statistics, and the doubts, Bathu was born.
Startups fail. That’s what the data screams. Many great ideas are left gathering dust on the shelves of “what could have been.” But on that quiet winter day in 2014, Theo didn’t listen to the noise. He chose instead to listen to the still, determined voice inside him, the one that insisted Bathu had a place in the world.
“I didn’t have all the answers,” Theo reflects. “But I had a dream sharp enough to cut through uncertainty, a vision clear enough to guide me, and that rarest of startup fuels, unshakable belief.”
Ten years later, Theo sits at the same desk where it all began. But he doesn’t see the past; he sees a future still being written. What started as scribbles in a notebook has evolved into a thriving pan-African brand with flagship stores, strategic corporate partnerships, and a loyal community of supporters. Bathu isn’t just a shoe company. It’s a movement. A symbol of African pride, possibility, and excellence.
Today, Bathu employs hundreds and serves thousands. More than that, it inspires an entire generation to believe that homegrown dreams can not only survive but thrive.
“This anniversary isn’t about one founder’s journey,” Theo says. “It’s about an entire ecosystem that turned a possibility into a reality.”
To the early adopters who believed before there was proof, your trust became the foundation.
To the corporate partners who bet on vision instead of track records, your support amplified our reach.
To the suppliers and stakeholders who grew with us, your consistency became our anchor.
And to the Bathu Mavericks, the heartbeat of the brand, your hands don’t just craft footwear; they craft futures. Every pair of shoes stitched and boxed is a testament to what African ingenuity and resilience can achieve.
“You manufacture hope,” Theo says with unmistakable pride. “You prove that African excellence is not aspirational, it’s achievable.”
This 10-year milestone is not a destination but a powerful pause. A chance to recommit. Because the next decade calls for more. More jobs. More innovation. More voices that dare to dream, louder and bolder than ever before.
Hanging in Bathu’s office today is the original registration certificate from 2014. Not as a trophy, but as a daily reminder. A reminder of what is possible when one person chooses to begin, and when many choose to believe.
The journey of a thousand steps began with one signature. Today, Bathu walks forward, proudly African, boldly ambitious, and deeply grateful.
