About His Business & Career: Since launching in 2009, Oliberté, the world’s first and only Fair Trade-certified footwear company, has become something of a model for the new world of corporate social responsibility. Each pair of shoes is handcrafted, in small batches using the finest materials to ensure unmatched quality—a claim the company backs up with its lifetime warranty. And building on Dehtiar’s vision to support workers’ rights and environmental stewardship worldwide, the company pivoted to manufacturing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why He Made the Worthy 100: The company’s first pair of shoes were handcrafted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. For nearly a decade, Oliberté operated this factory with the ethos: treat everyone with respect each step of the way. And that ideology remains to this day, despite the company moving its manufacturing to Canada in 2019. A proponent of an inclusive economy, Dehtiar has remained steadfast in his commitment to sustainability, ethical work practices and taking care of everyone from shareholders to factory workers.
Industry: Retail/Footwear
Year Founded: 2009
Headquarters: Ontario, Canada
