OUR STORY
Hello Friends! I’m Mitali, the founder of Chalo.
In the early ’90s, my father—nicknamed Waldo because he’s always mysteriously MIA—opened a small leather factory in our home city of Kanpur, in North India. At the time, the factory made cowboy boot uppers—the decorative top part of cowboy boots, for anyone who’s not boot-obsessed like we are.
And somehow, the life at the factory became a large part of our day to day.
Leather work and cowboy boots were everywhere growing up. They weren’t just “work boots” or “riding boots” to us—they were everyday shoes. Over the years, I watched them get styled, re-styled, passed down, and made personal.
OUR INSPIRATION
With Chalo, I wanted to take the traditional cowboy boot—its craft, its attitude, its durability, and give it a twist. Versatile, wearable, and made for real life—wherever you live, however you move.
We started with cowboy boots—because that’s in our DNA—but we didn’t stop there. Today, Chalo has grown into a small collection of thoughtfully made footwear, from boots to open leather styles, all designed for women and children who want pieces that are both beautiful and easy to live in.
Psst: and that’s my sister, Mansi—sidekick at Chalo and also our lead model (sometimes by choice, sometimes not 😉)!
HEAR FROM THE CHALO FOLK
"I love stomping around the city in my Chalo boots. The sleek cowboy style changes the vibe of any outfit I pair them with. And, the best thing, they are out-of-the-box comfortable, even for us girlies with wide feet and uh, athletic calves!"
-Sabine D., Germany
"This makes me so excited! I’ve been wanting to wear cowboy boots, but have been so unsure as a WoC if they would look okay. After finally pulling the trigger, I’m so excited for my first pair of cowboy boots by Chalo. They make surprisingly comfortable and wearable boots, and I love that the brand is run by a woman of color and supports tradespeople in India. This brand is living my dream and I'm looking forward to my next pair!"
-Katherine D., United States
"I love my Chalo’s! As someone who prefers simple, classic styling, I love how chic, subtle, and versatile my Chalo's are. They are comfortable, eye-catching, and work really well with the clothes I already own."
-Ayushi A., United Kingdom
"I am so thrilled by my Chalo boots! I have the Wild Oak design: firstly, they are gorgeous, the shade of brown is stunning, and the touch of the snake-print makes them stand up in a very subtle, but chic way. They are so comfortable, which really struck me as soon as I put them on. Although these are cowboy boots, I don't feel strange wearing them. I find them very approachable and they have blended in quite well for me.
They would make a great addition to any wardrobe."
-Tarika L., Switzerland
"When I got my pair of Chalo boots, I was obsessed. They are truly stunning, incredible quality, first. And second, they come from the kind of people and philosophy we all need to support more."
-Ambika P., United States
FEATURED RESOURCES
We love the kind mentions and shoutouts Chalo has received, from newsletters to global fashion platforms and communities of change-makers and entrepreneurs. It’s been encouraging to see the love.
Take a look at what the community has to say about Chalo!
CHALO, THE NAME
Chalo, pronounced "chuh-loh”, translates from Hindi to “let’s go.” Your Chalo's are crafted with a lot of love and meticulous detailing. They are a reminder to go on new adventures and are made to pair with all of your journeys.