PPE
Photo courtesy of Juno Jones.
Leading with sole
Brand founder discusses redefining safety footwear for women
By Benita Mehta, ISHN Chief Editor
I
n a recent interview with ISHN, Emily Soloby, the CEO and founder of Juno Jones, highlighted the unique challenges that women face in hazardous work environments. Soloby founded Juno Jones to address the lack of suitable safety footwear for women, both in terms of fit and style. The company specifically designs work boots for women, taking into account the different shape and size of women’s feet.
Soloby explained that the idea for Juno Jones came from her own experiences working in the trucking industry, a business she ran with her husband. As an executive, she often found herself on job sites where proper safety footwear was a necessity. However, she struggled to find work boots that fit her feet and provided the necessary protection. Soloby also noticed that her female colleagues were facing the same issue. This lack of options inspired her to create a company that would cater to the specific needs of women in hazardous work environments.
“I would be out in the trucking, out in the job site, out with the trucks, working as an executive in that industry, and I couldn’t find shoes that actually fit my feet, that looked decent with what I was wearing and that were protecting me,” Soloby said. “And I looked around and the same thing for our employees. I couldn’t find anything for the women who were working with us that really worked for them.”
Overcoming challenges
In addition to her role at Juno Jones, Soloby is also a task force member for Women in Trucking, a steering committee member for Empowering Women in Industry, and a board member for the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Women in Construction. Through her work with these organizations, Soloby has gained a deeper understanding of the various challenges that women face in male-dominated industries.
One issue, according to Soloby, is the feeling of isolation that many women experience. This is especially true for those who are the only woman on a job site. To combat this, Soloby created the Hazard Girls podcast and community, which provides a platform for women in hazardous industries to connect and share their experiences. She also points to organizations like the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) as valuable resources for women who are looking to build a support network.
“One of the biggest ones, is probably isolation, feeling like you’re the only one. And that is why I created my group, the Hazard Girls, and started our podcast, the Hazard Girls podcast, to show women that they are not alone, even if they’re the only one on that job site, there are still many of us out there in different industries,” Soloby said.
In addition to the feelings of isolation, Soloby also highlighted the ongoing issue of sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. She emphasized the need for continued advocacy and support for women who are facing these challenges. Soloby also called for a greater focus on providing women with the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) and safety gear.
Focus on footwear
Through her work with Juno Jones, Soloby is on a mission to not only provide women with better safety footwear but to also raise awareness about the importance of proper fit and design. The company is constantly working to expand its product offerings and meet the needs of women in various industries. Soloby also hopes to see a broader cultural shift towards recognizing the unique needs of women in the workplace.
“Even though these Juno Jones and these other companies exist, I think the biggest challenge is still access. It’s for companies to find a. The brands. Yes, we do exist. Yes, we are out here. And to get them to their employees also, a lot of companies may think that they’re doing the right thing by providing what they feel is a women’s option. Unfortunately, it is still a unisex shoe,” Soloby said.
For now, Soloby is focused on continuing to grow Juno Jones and expand the company’s reach. She is particularly interested in exploring new markets and increasing the availability of Juno Jones products. In addition to its own website, Juno Jones is now sold through a number of online retailers, including Lehigh Outfitter, J. J. Keller and Duluth Trading Company.
“Our focus is footwear. We do plan to continue to focus on footwear, and that’s because there are so many different industries out there that require different things. There are so many different types of footwear, safety footwear that are needed. So we are continuing our focus on safety footwear for women and expanding that out into various different industries and different safety features,” Soloby said.
For more of the interview, listen to the All Things Safety podcast episode.
Benita Mehta is chief editor of ISHN.
October 2024
VOL. 58 NO. 8