Malaika Inc

When kindergarten teachers Jasmine Surani and Taz Saleem had their own children, the couple was inspired to step into a new business — children’s shoes. Opening Little Footprints in Aspen Landing in 2009, the pair was able to combine their pre-career retail backgrounds with their love of working with children. And doing so has allowed them to remain hands-on parents to young sons Mika and Eesa who’ve grown up with the store’s whimsical, colourful surroundings.

The self-confessed shoe aficionados got the brainchild to open a store specializing in children’s footwear upon moving home to Canada to raise their firstborn after teaching school in Taiwan. “There was a shortage of good children’s shoes in Calgary,” Jasmine says.