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John Brecher / NBC News
From left: Andy Sewrey, Matthew Griffin and Donald Lee (displayed on the computer via Google hangout from Los Angeles) run Combat Flip-Flops, headquartered in Issaquah, Wash., and made in Afghanistan.
Whether fighting Taliban in the remote mountain valleys of Afghanistan or snowboarding down a double-black-diamond run in the Cascade range, you want your brothers with you. And the same goes for starting a small business selling flip-flops inspired by military service and the Afghan people.
That’s why West Point graduate-turned beachwear entrepreneur Matthew Griffin, his brother in-arms Donald Lee and brother-in-law, Andrew Sewrey, joined together to deliver a new twist on beach footwear -- Combat Flip Flops.
Griffin and Lee served two tours as special ops Army Rangers in Afghanistan together from 2003 to 2006. Lee also was involved in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
The idea for Combat Flip Flops, which sells high end togs with names like the AK-17 for men and Bombshell Light for women, is headquartered in a one-car garage a stone’s throw from a salmon stream in the foothills outside Seattle. It started like many things in that part of the country do, with a cup of coffee.
Soldier who lost 4 limbs in Afghanistan returns home to hero's welcome
In 2010, Griffin had returned to Kabul as a medical training and equipment supplier to the Afghan military when he met an American who managed a shoe factory at a business conference. The factory was set up by Afghan families who’d been running shoe factories for years and were able to obtain U.S. government contracts to make footwear for the U.S. military.
Best coffee in Kabul?
“He asked if I wanted to try the best cup of coffee in Kabul,” Griffin said. “Being from Seattle we said all right we’ll give that one a day in court.”
John Brecher / NBC News
Combat Flip Flops, made in Afghanistan, displayed in the garage of Andy Sewrey in Issaquah, Wash.
Afterward, during a tour of the factory floor, which he found clean, organized with well-trained workers in uniform, the engineering management grad said he began thinking about ways to help the Afghan people over the long term. “What is going to happen when we pull out. If you have a factory, that is going to let people feed their family. Each worker supports about eight or nine other members of their family.”
Then, he said, he saw a worker, putting a flip flop thong through a combat boot sole. It was meant as a joke for coworkers, but it instantly caught Griffin’s attention.
The idea for Combat Flip Flops was formed: He’d help the Afghan people he had grown to admire for their selfless hospitality and independent spirit and do his part for economic stability in the country by creating sustainable jobs. He registered the Internet domain name when he got back to his hotel room.
NBC's Lester Holt answers your questions about Afghanistan
Griffin returned to his home in Washington state, and learned that his wife Michele’s sister, Kristy, was getting married. Her groom was Andy Sewrey, a Montana-bred construction manager and bass player in a metal rock band (Sunder) who the first time they met showed up to a family barbecue with a six-foot potato cannon. The two learned that they both snowboarded, but each worried that the other wasn’t quite at the same level of expertise (They each feared the other would be a “dork” on the slopes).
Finally, after Sewrey was married, the two agreed to join each other for some early spring skiing on the steep side of Snoqualmie Pass, about a half hour drive from their homes in Issaquah.
Mohammad Ismail / Reuters
Afghan employees work at the Boot Factory in Kabul in Sept. 2012, where Combat Flip Flops are made.
Sewrey said the two shredded the mountain like never before that day, “pushing every possible open gap.”
“That just kind of changed things,” Sewrey said. “It was like OK, you’re cool. This is my brother. “
Griffin shared his idea of Combat Flip Flops with Sewrey. And Sewrey, who had studied art and design in college, began making sketches. Griffin introduced his new brother in-law to his brother-in arms, Lee, who grew up and still lives in Los Angeles and also studied art and design. Lee had worked in Internet marketing in the shoe industry before joining the Army after Sept. 11, 2001.
'Cuckoo's nest'
As Lee describes his work in the elite special ops force, “Griff was in the cuckoo’s nest and I was the cuckoo.” Griffin planned, organized and prepared his team to coordinate air strikes from B1 bombers and attack helicopters, and Lee was on the ground calling in the coordinates.
Lee and Griffin became friends on their first tour of duty with the 75th Ranger Regiment, in an operation called “Winter Strike.” It was a snowy assault on Al-Qaida and the Taliban in remote mountain villages. The idea, Griffin said, was that enemy couldn’t hide at high elevations anymore because American forces would send people to go get them.
“There’s no support. Helicopters have a hard time reaching there so it’s men with boots on the ground and packs and cold weather gear going up into the mountains and doing their job,” Griffin said.
The mountain Afghans let the Rangers live in their homes and stay in their schools. They helped them start fires to stay warm, and even brought in stoves. The Rangers drank tea with the elders.
“They literally fed us their food that they had to survive for the rest of the winter,” Griffin said. “There is a basic level of humanity to that. I don’t care whether you’re Christian, Muslim or Jewish, there is a compassion there for other human beings. I felt that from Afghans.”
It was this feeling for the Afghan people, to keep them working when the bulk of the American forces depart in 2014, that ultimately became the idea behind Combat Flip Flop. Right now, the company consists of Griffin as CEO, Sewrey as president, and Lee as Web design, sales and marketing guru and about 30 Afghan workers.
As the security in Afghanistan crumbles, 'Nightly' returns to an orphanage that Brian Williams first visited in 2009 to find girls with big dreams who are focused on getting into college.
Some people think the name is too militant, but Griffin says those people are missing the point. It tongue-in cheek, more of a fun marketable brand for flip flops that anyone can wear.
In a trip last month to Kabul to inspect the factories, Sewrey said he also witnessed the pride and dignity of Afghans.
Sweeping dirt
“There you see guys, maybe he has a little shop selling naan, out in the morning on the side of the road. The dude is out there sweeping the dirt. It’s dirt. Nothing, but more dirt. There’s dirt on dirt on dirt. And there’s a guy that’s like this is my business I’m going to sweep my dirt. You’d see that all over town. They really care about what they’re doing.”
Combat Flip Flops is a small startup that sells their rugged and colorful footwear starting at $65. The company has lined up retailers in Europe and North America, but 90 percent of its sales are online. Flip flops made in Afghanistan are expected to begin shipping in mid-December. The first run of 2,000 men’s models have already sold out, but orders are still being taken for later shipments and women’s sandals.
The trio has also received permission from the family of the leader of the Northern Alliance, Ahmad Shah Massoud, a political leader and Afghan fighter who was named a National Hero by the Afghan government, to sell T-shirts with his likeness. Massoud, nicknamed the “Lion of Panjshir,” is acclaimed for helping driving the Russians out of Afghanistan. Osama bin Laden is suspected to have ordered Massoud’s assassination on Sept. 9, 2001. Griffin and Sewrey traveled to Massoud’s hometown in the Panjshir Valley last month and met with his brother and son. The stylistic shirts will be revealed soon, with a percentage of the profits going to the Massoud Foundation.
They also have plans for new Afghan inspired flip-flop designs using sheep and goat leather.
“We really think that through jobs and economic stability we can do something for the Afghans,” Griffin said. “Do we think that flip flops are going to solve Afghanistan’s problems? No. But we’re trying to show people that it’s possible for a foreign business to work with the people there, and have fun doing it.”
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Leave a Comment:
Love this story, way to go guys.
Agreed. Who would have thought that you could name a sandal after our foreign policy strategy.
Cool story, but their flip flops look awfully similar to Aldo's main product. Hmm, wonder when they will get sued.
65 dollars for a pair of flip flops/ China can make them for about 2 dollars a pair; they are not going to be in buisiness long.
Most likely they pay less than a dollar a pair and sell them for $65 as a novelty. Having been to countries over there, I know you can get most things like that dirt cheap by our standards. But that is their income and may be only a grand a year or less. But kudos to the guys for thinking outside the box.
Hey Robert. Did you think to consider that may be these guys want to pay a "living wage" to their workers? My cousin has traveled over there to and she said that it can be expensive to do anything over there due to security issues, competition amongst various "world" organizations for real estate, etc.
They sell the item for $65 but they don't say a word about how much they pay the workers. A nickel an hour?
It's not just the manufacturing. There is also the cost of materials, the heating and other utilities/support for the employees, packaging, making the packaging, the shipping, the customs fees, the shipping, the import fees, and there's an extra charge for imported footwear to the United States. Advertising, what have you.
Paying the Afghans enough to take care of them and the eight or nine other people in their families is going to be more than a nickel an hour. Others who will gain will be the suppliers and the locals who provide services to the employees. (However, since you mentioned it, there are areas of Africa where if you paid a laborer a dime an hour for a manufacturing job such as this, that person would be the richest person in the village. I don't know what the wages are in Afghanistan.)
I would, however, be interested in knowing the amount that the two top guys would be making.
God, can we get someone from MSNBC that actually knows what they're talking about to write these articles. Special ops Army Rangers? How about Tactical Force Super Duper High Speed SEAL Team Delta?
Learn what you're talking about. Then maybe you won't look like a fool.
Travis,
Maybe you should learn WTF you are talking about. Special Ops does not mean they are SEALs. Many Special Ops personnel come out of the Army Rangers.
Travis is a man in garrison and is super cranky and very unhappy. He wants to nit pick everything because everything irritates him. He may have sand in his vagina.
Travis is your typical redneck superstitious tea bagger, he also believes Obama is a muslim who is in the country illegally, and masturbates to pictures of a big yellow bird
blowyourself...please keep your sexual proclivities to yourself...we don't care what you do !
Seal Team Delta? Hmmmm, thought they only used numbers.
Blowtorch...fixed it for ya.
Travis is your typical redneck patriotic tea bagger, he also believes Obama is a muslim who is in the oval office illegally, and masturbates to pictures of bill cinton and monica lewinski.
The Rangers are under the command of USAOC (United States Army Special Operations Command), Rangers, Special Forces, PSYOPS, Civil Affairs Brigaide ect are all Special Ops.
How low can you go AmeriKKKa. "Afghan's thrive in orphanges?! Flip-fops with genocidal connotations, really funny, AH's!
Having murdered their parents in most cases. Their lives destroyed by US aggression. Memories of torn bodies, crushed bones and burnt hair belonging to their parents and loved ones scattered across the countryside as a result of the horrendous US Predator' hellfire anti-tank missiles, white phosporus, MK-77 Napalm and millions of cluster bomblets scattered throughout the country, not to mention babies being born with extra appendages, two heads, even an extra eye in the forehead as a result of the US' use of depleted uranium munitions (DU) against innocent civilians. What kind of monsters are you anyway?!!! It's like saying WTC survivors 'thrive' after their loved ones were murdered by airliners crashing into tall buildings. Sick MFer's that you are AmeriKKKa!
A$$Cowboy. GFY !!
Someone please adjust the cowboy's meds.
Travis,
What are you talking about?
Army Rangers are considered special ops. They are the elite of the army. My son is currently an Army Ranger.
Sure, and the 82nd is considered infantry. Does it make sense to refer to a former member of the 82nd as "Infantry 82nd"?
and that has to do how with the comment you made about Rangers? What happen couldn't get in or did pass?
Yeah 82nd is light infantry. You sound like an idiot Travis.
It's not Travis' fault, that he can't spell google in the address bar, much less use that search engine for Special Operations Forces. So, to show my humanity, I did the research for ya Travis...
Army Special Operations
Rangers (Airborne): The Rangers are a special operations response strike force that primarily conducts direct action missions. They are expert infantrymen-the principal airfield seizure-and-raid unit in the U.S. Army. A Ranger unit is proficient in all light infantry skills, focusing on mission-essential tasks that include movement to contact, ambush, reconnaissance, airborne, air assault, night operations and hasty defense.
Each battalion in the Ranger Regiment can deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours.
The 75th Ranger Regiment, headquartered at Fort Benning, Ga., is composed of three battalions, and is the premier light-infantry unit of the U.S. Army. The three Ranger battalions that comprise the 75th Ranger Regiment are geographically dispersed:
Special Forces: The U.S. Army Special Forces (the operators who wear the Green Beret) are trained to perform extended operations in extremely remote and hostile territory.
Special Forces soldiers have extensive expertise in intelligence, communications, weapons, medical aid, engineering, explosives, and use these skills to conduct operations that are characterized by their motto “De Oppresso Liber”—To Free the Oppressed.
Special Forces are divided into five groups (1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th and 10th) in the Regular Army and two (19th and 20th) in the National Guard, each with a specific regional focus.
Other special operations forces missions include counterproliferation, information operations, combat search and rescue, counterdrug activities, security assistance, humanitarian assistance, humanitarian demining and special activities
Delta Force: Although not officially identified by the Defense Department, the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment Delta (SFOD-D), or Delta Force, is known as the nationÕs foremost counter-terrorist strike force.
Delta (also referred to as Combat Applications Group) is reported to train extensively in CQB (Close Quarters Battle), including airplane, bus and train scenarios.
160th SOAR “The Night Stalkers”: The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) provides aviation support to Army special operations forces. The regiment consists of modified OH-6 light observation helicopters, MH-60 utility helicopters and MH-47 medium-lift helicopters. Its focus on night
operations has resulted in the nickname, “The Night Stalkers.”
The regiment currently consists of three battalions. The 1st and 2nd battalions are located at Fort Campbell, Ky., while the 3rd battalion is located at Hunter Army Airfield, Ga.
Special Operations Chemical Response Detachment: CRDs are the sole units with the mission of conducting chemical reconnaissance in permissive, semi-permissive and denied areas for special operation forces in theater. These special detachments are located at: 56th CRD — Ft. Campbell, Ky.; 445th CRD
(Reserve) — Ft. Meade, Md.; 801st CRD — Ft. Bragg, N.C.; 900th CRD — Ft. Carson, Col
The Army's 82nd Airborne, 101st Air Assault and Long-Range Surveillance Units are not listed in this overview, because their missions do not fall under the auspices of special operations. They are, however, highly specialized and capable infantry units.
U.S. Navy Special Warfare
SEALs: SEAL is an acronym for Sea, Air and Land. SEALs are qualified in diving and parachuting, and are experts at combat swimming, navigation, demolitions, weapons and many other skills. SEALs
operate in small units in maritime, desert, jungle, cold-weather and urban environments.
The major operational components of Naval Special Warfare Command include Naval Special Warfare Group One and Special Boat Squadron One in San Diego, Calif., and Naval Special Warfare Group Two and Special Boat Squadron Two in Norfolk, Va.
SEAL Delivery Vehicle Team: SDV teams are specially trained SEALs and support personnel who operate and maintain SDVs and dry-deck shelters. The SEAL delivery vehicles are wet submersibles designed to conduct clandestine reconnaissance, direct action and passenger delivery missions in a maritime
environment.
Special Boat Squadrons and Units: These units are responsible for operating and maintaining a variety of special operations ships and crafts to conduct coastal and riverine interdiction and support of naval operations. These units are comprised of Special Warfare Combat Crewmen (SWCC).
Special Warfare Combat Crewmembers: Special Warfare Combat Crewmen operate and maintain the inventory of state-of-the-art, high-performance boats and ships used to support SEALs and special operations missions. SWCC focus on clandestine infiltration and exfiltration of SEALs and other special operations forces. They also provide dedicated, rapid mobility in shallow-water areas where larger ships cannot operate.
Air Force Special Tactics
Pararescue: The primary mission of pararescue (whose members are sometimes called parajumpers or PJs) is personnel recovery and emergency medical capabilities in peacetime and combat environments. They deploy by air, land or sea to provide the trauma medical care for injured personnel. They participate in combat search and rescue operations.
Combat Controllers: Combat controllers (First There) establish assault zones. The assault zone is either a drop zone (for parachute operations); a landing zone (for fixed wing or helicopter operations); or an extraction zone (for low altitude resupply). They also establish recovery zones (for surface-to-air recovery of personnel or equipment) and ground-based fire control for AC-130 gunship operations. Combat controllers also are qualified in demolitions to clear obstructions and hazards.
When assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), combat controllers and PJs are combined into special tactics teams. A special tactics team frequently operates with Navy SEALS, Army Rangers and Special Forces in direct action, airfield seizure and personnel recovery missions in hostile
territory.
Weather Parachutists: Combat weather personnel provide meteorological and oceanographic information in and for the special operations theater of operations. Functions include tactical infiltration, data collection, analysis and forecasting, mission-tailoring of environmental information, and operations
in concert with host nation weather personnel. They perform this job from forward-deployed bases or behind enemy lines using miniature, tactical weather equipment and a variety of communications equipment.
These personnel make up one squadron comprised of five detachments supporting Special Forces Groups, the Ranger Regiment, Special Operations Aviation Regiments (SOAR), Psychological Operations Groups (POG), Special Warfare Training Groups (SWTG), Civil Affairs (CA) units and Special Operations Support
Battalions.
U.S. Marine Corps
Note: No Marine units are part of the
Special Operations Command, but are listed here due to their specialized training and ability to perform missions similar to that of the U.S. Navy SEALS and U.S. Army Special Forces.
Force Reconnaissance: The U.S. Marine CorpsÕ Force Reconnaissance units conduct pre-assault and distant post-assault reconnaissance in support of an amphibious landing force. They obtain information on all routes, obstacles, terrain and enemy forces within certain boundaries and provide real-time
information, through surveillance of areas of interest, photographs and sketches.
Force Recon companies are attached to a Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) (MEU(SOC)).
Well, I suppose the Afgans do know a thing or two about flip-flopping when it comes to combat.
Nothin' to see here folks, move along. Uh? Anybody ever heard of V.C. Shower Shoes? Everybody I knew had a pair and took them home when they transferred out of Vietnam. Made with strips of old inner tubes and tires. Pretty practical, never caught on in the states though. Anyway, you go get 'em guys, maybe now that you're not labeled baby killers like back in the day a novelty like this will catch on.
A Veteran...Still got mine !! :-).
I had a pair over there too,lost them somewhere? I believe they were made out of old tires(had the thread of a tire I remember).
Welcome Home and Thank You both for your Service. If you get a chance please read www.riflewarrior.com/vietnam.html written in 1967 MickeyG for you and the rest of us over there. Mike RICE
About the V.C. Shower Shoe thing, my Grandson is a surfer down at Carlsbad, CA., (by Trestles) and he thought those old things looked cool so I recycled them and he's wearing them now. Pretty good for something made out of old tires I bought in 1966. :)
I hope these brothers are able to protect themselves from others and large companies wanting to edge in on their profit. Thank you for serving our Country.
I am not kidding, but they should have them make VC sandles out of tires. They are comfortable and last forever.
BigBaldGuy - You sound like you've had personal experience with those V.C. Shower Shoes too. Please read my post 6.3 and to YOU also, Welcome Home and Thank You for your Service.
I'd like to order a pair of Mitt Rmoney's in a 13 double-wide.
Good going Guys!!!
WHAT the hell is special ops Army Rangers? hahahahahahaha
So damn stupid.
Wow, pleasantly surprised to not see anyone complaining about them "not bringing jobs to America." These guys are great and I'm happy they're doing something for the Afghan people. Also, for everyone complaining about price, I've never bought a $65 pair of flip flops, but it's certainly not uncommon. I've definitely seen more expensive flip flops. At least in this case, the money's going to a good cause and not just an overpriced company.
I was actually reading all comments and quite surprised that you were the first to mention about the jobs not being here in the US...these guys are from the Pacific northwest, home to JBLM (Ft Lewis and Mc Chord AFB...Lots of returning soldiers and airmen out of jobs...I'm sure if they would have set up a shop here in the PNW..Combat Flip-flops, made by combat vets, sales would have soared!!!
Air Force Vet and Mother of a Combat JBLM Soldier
Good job dumb @ss's!
If you're going to make a great product and still charge $50+ for it why not make it in America?
The US is going down hil at the speed it is because we make absolutely nothing! STOP sending all the jobs overseas! If you actually do the math you will see that with shipping and what not it really is not that much cheaper to produce something in another Country.
If it were anybody else I would agree with you......but these are servicemen that left home.....Many get dumped out where they last served.......and dont or cannot make it back home.
I am not saying for sure that is the case here but understand......when you get ouf of the millitary especially after War like many of these young men and women, you just want to re-integrate. Your service is done. You need to get a job....find a place to stay.....forget about those benefits you got living and working on a military installation and make a LIVING.
Kudos for these young men for starting a SMALL business. This is not Firestone Tires or Sears. These young men need an INCOME.
Lets not make this out to be MORE than it is. I would not call them dumb. I would say they are Genius and those genius's were putting in work for YOU during the WAR. Where you out there defending your family and the American way of life?
somebody either didn't read the article or they did not understand it!
Good idea but $65 for a pair of flip flops is ridiculous.
Try buying them at the Beach....lol
And thus you see why so much of what we buy is "Made in China"...
If these were being made in your standard-issue Chinese shoe sweat shop by gangs of 10-12 year old kids being paid $1/week, then yeah, these would be some $5 shoes.
But they're not. They're made by at least two Americans - so at minimum wage, that's not less than $14/hour. Now deduct the cost of materials, marketing, shipping, advertising, and so on and see what the actual profit margin is.
If these guys are making profit $2/shoe I'll be impressed.
What could possibly be wrong with former service men having a small business?
Gave their service when no one else volunteered and have moved on to the next chapter of
their lives by starting up a small business giving it the same dedication they gave to their country.
If something is wrong with this..........then there is probably something wrong with you!
Stop looking for ways to politicize YOUR hang ups and dislikes for everything that is not perfect
to YOU in this world and be happy for someone that TRULY deserves the fruits of their labor.
Good job fellas and Godspeed!
RLTW!
IYAAYAS........lol....nothing but love!
To leave a few words for whiners on this post ... entrepreneurship, micro loans, chic fashion, et al. Andy, Matt and Don are making the American dream: finding the niche market and exploiting a viable marketing concept. While the profits may not materialize overnight or not at all, they are showing the Afghan peoples there is a viable alternative to hate, war, and drugs.
How many thousands of years have Afghanistan been isolated from the world economy, pawns for whatever flavor of the world leader nation, and torn apart by tribalism and religious oppression. Now Andy, Matt and Don open up the proverbial side of the tent and give a glimmer of what can be achieved not only locally but also on the global economic stage.
Does it matter if the shoe is $65 or $165? There is always a chic fashion market that will gravitate toward items like this. There is the person who knowing the story will buy the flip flop to show a commitment to promoting the Afghan people cause. The blue collar folks will show their commitment to the latest Monster Jam truck by buying the $25 dollar tee shirt. While the chic avant-garde white collar person will spend $65 on flip flops thinking that in some small way they are supporting the Afghan people's cause (without the blood and mud of putting boots on the ground). It is simply Marketing 101 and Andy, Matt and Don pass with flying colors.
You cannot not change people no matter the culture unless you can reach into their minds and souls. The Afghan peoples at the end of the day only want the same thing everybody wants: food on their tables to feed their family, a roof over their heads to keep their family warm and safe, and a viable job that can help them achieve all those things. The macro issues that worry national leaders is the last thing on their minds. The global machinations we see every day through rose colored glasses doesn't figure into to their daily lives.
Andy, Matt and Don reach down and touch the Afghan people at the micro level where food, shelter, and community meld. It may be dorky but the flip flop may be the one small thing that changes the economic and political equation more than the blood and treasure world nations spent trying to "stabilize" the regions.
Thanks Andy, Matt and Don!
RGB1957- finally someone that understands what these men are really attempting to do. Great! A welcome change to the more and more common Ready-Shoot-Aim mentality of so many today.
WTF. I thought everyone "over there" was an evil Islamist bent on taking over the world and spreading their evil religion to your children and grandparents! Don't they have nightly baths in the blood of Christians and wake up hating us because of our freedoms?
They actually care about food and heat - and their businesses?
Obviously more left wing propaganda from MSNBC
Seriously, though - good story, and this could be the most comments I've seen lately where it didn't turn into a random election debate or call for genocide.
Let's not forget the Green on Blue death toll!!!!
Bravo for these men who are heros in so many ways....May God continue to send His blessing to all of you and the business and may He bless the Afghan people who decided to join you on this venture...may He keep them safe and prosperous for daring to join up with Americans to create instead of destroying lives and livelihoods...
Are they shipping yet?
This free citizen hopes their venture succeds and that the Taliban will leave them alone. I will start my prayers for their betterment by buying a pair.
Some more great typos by the MSNBC staff. The sandal name is not AK-17, it's AK-47.
God bless our troops - What a great feel-good story! Everyone can now feel even better about spending 10+ years & borrowing over $1 trillion to demolish a small country. Wonder whose idea this bit of propaganda was?