Archive for the ‘Eco-Friendly Shoes’ Category
Orthaheel Tide Flip Flops
Flip flop sandals are an essential for Summer and, if you’re like me, you spend a lot of your time in them. They are easy to slip on and off during our active and busy Summer days and they look great whether we are wearing them with shorts, pants, a dress, or a swimsuit. Flip flops are without a doubt the most versatile Summer shoes in our closet.
Picking the right flip flop, however, is not a easy task. There are so many styles to choose from and most often we pick the style that we like the best without a thought to how they will feel on our feet. However, simple as they may be, a flip flop with good support and stability makes a big difference!
I recently received a pair of Tide Flip Flops from Orthaheel and have had a chance to wear them regularly for nearly 2 months and I must say these are the most comfortable flip flops I’ve ever owned! It’s not surprising as they were developed by a podiatrist and are endorsed by Dr. Andrew Weil. They are not the flimsy beach-type sandals that you will need to replace after a couple of months . They are substantial but also very lightweight at the same time.
When I first put on my Tide flip flops, there were 2 things I noticed immediately. The first is how comfortable the footbed was. It fit and supported my feet perfectly, providing stability underfoot. According to the Orthaheel website, the footbed also has a built in orthotic that helps prevent pronation. Pronation occurs when the foot rolls inwards and the arch of the foot flattens and it is a common and painful problem for many. The 2nd thing I noticed is how comfortable the toe post is. I’ve gotten thongs before where the toe post is so painful after only a few hours. Not the case with these sandals. I’ve worn them all day and have had no pain! The toe post is constructed of a soft woven material and is foam lined providing all day comfort.
Not only are they great for your feet, but they also look great too. The Tide flip flops have an upper made of woven/polyurethane and padded neoprene and they are available in some great colors for Summer (shown below). At only $54.99, the Tide Sandals are priced well and your feet will love them! And you will feel great wearing them all day!
Orthaheel also makes some other great styles of sandals that are worth checking out. I’ve got my eye on the Seatrek sandals. Shown below, they have an adjustable hook and loop strap and a shiny croco patterned upper.
Orthaheel sandals can be found in some select retail shoe stores but the most convenient way to get them is online directly from the Orthaheel website.
Click here to view all styles of the Orthaheel Sandals.
Stylish, Eco-Friendly Shoes
For Earth Day, I’d like to recognize some great shoe brands that have shown that you don’t have to sacrifice style if you want to wear shoes that are eco-friendly and socially-responsible. In the past, “eco-friendly” shoes have gotten a reputation of being plain and rather boring. Today, however, the growing awareness of the need for environmentally friendly footwear has also led to wider variety of designs and styles to choose from in recently years.
Here are just a few notable eco-friendly shoe brands that have impressive designs.
OlsenHaus
OlsenHaus is a 100% vegan shoe brand, which means they use no leather, fur, wool or silk. Shoe materials include ultra suede, organic cotton, canvas, nylon, velvet, linen, and cork. The use of these kinds of material contribute to far less pollution and, since they do not use leather, they utilize only a fraction of the energy it takes to process or tan leather. Their shoes are made in Central America where there factories are monitored for fair trade practices, fair wages and proper facilities. Visit their website for more information on their philosophy and practices for making eco-friendly shoes.
olsenHaus Berlin Mary Jane Pump
Cri de Couer
Certified carbon-neutral and cruelty-free, Cri de Coeur is changing the face of the fashion footwear market. Their shoes are made by hand as much as possible, and are uniquely crafted for durability using 100% vegan materials and sustainable processes. With each purchase, they sponsor a tree to be planted to help with reforestation efforts around the world. Cri de Coeur’s mission is to strive for ethical and sustainable practices in everything they do, without sacrificing style or wearability.
Cri de Coeur Stella Zip Sandal
Beyond Skin
Beyond Skin is an English ethical footwear label operating in an environmentally friendly manner that is non-exploitative to humans and animals. Cruelty- and sweatshop-free, Beyond Skin is produced in Spain, promoting ethically sound and energy-efficient working practices that prove fashion and ethics can go hand-in-hand. All packaging and promotional material is either recycled or from a sustainable source and printed using vegetable-based inks, and a percentage of Beyond Skin profits go to a selection of ethical charities. The collection encapsulates glamour and taste, while remaining true to the Beyond Skin philosophy which is to create gorgeous, ethical footwear for discerning style-led women.
Beyond Skin Marina Slingback Sandal
Beyond Skin San Jose Sandal
El Naturalista
The brand El Naturalista (The Naturalist) originates from La Roja, Spain- an area reknowned for their artisan shoemakers. They know their trade, their quality and how to strike a healthy balance between traditional and modern shoes. Their products are universal, adaptable, and nature-inspired.
El Naturalista Rana Thar Sandal
El Naturalista N402 Wedge Sandal
Lastly, I’d just like to mention one other brand- Naya- that I recently wrote about. Eco-friendly Naya shoes are the the latest line of shoes from the Brown Shoe company. Their collection offers a very affordable selection of eco-friendly footwear made with sustainable materials, nickel free buckles and chrome-free leather, ranging around $100-150.
Naya Sandals: Eco-Friendly Footwear You Will Love
The Naya footwear collection has a wonderful selection of Summer Sandals this season. If you are not familiar with this brand, they are worth checking out. Naya is an eco-friendly brand that’s does a fantastic job of using natural and eco-friendly materials to craft their shoes. I’m really loving several of these styles from their Spring 2010 Collection. I especially like the bamboo heels. Heels, especially on our favorite shoes, wear out so easily when we wear them everyday. Bamboo is one of the hardest woods (ever see the kitchen cutting boards made of bamboo?) and the striking bamboo wood grain gives the heel a lovely appearance. I also love the cushy footbeds made of biodegradable latex, making them comfortable to wear all day!
Naya Timpas Sandal- shown above in Saddle Tan, this sandal is also available in Wheatgrass (a light green) and Blaze (yellow). These cute gladiator inspired sandals feature chrome-free leather in a sexy and alluring T-strap sandal design, a decorative medallion, leather lining, recycled cork outsole, and a 2-1/2 inch bamboo heel.
Naya Mcloud Wedge Sandal- shown above in Blaze (Yellow), this sandal is also available in Desert (Orange), Moon Stone (Light Gray), and Camelot (Tan). This adorable sandal features a 2-piece wedge design, cork and rubber footbed with leather lining, latex foam in the footbed for cushy comfort, and a leather and bamboo wood wrapped midsole sole for eye-catching appeal. The heel is 3-1/4 inches with a 1 inch platform.
Naya Telluride- shown above in a super soft black and brown leather, this sandal is also available in a beige and tan leather upper. I just love the black and brown leather combination of these sandals and the strappy ankle strap sandal design. The buckle on the ankle strap is nickel free and the footbed has biodegradable latex foam for blissful comfort. The 2-1/2 inch heel is made of sustainable bamboo wood and the recycled cork outsole give great traction.
Naya Maher Sandal- shown here in Moon Stone, this sandal is also available in Black leather. This sandal features a soft knotted leather strap design with a heel sling strap and adjustable buckle for a secure fit. The heel is wrapped in the same soft leather as the upper and features a 3-1/4 inch heel with 1 inch platform.
Naya shoe designs feature chrome-free or vegatable-tanned leathers, natural, organic or sustainable fabrigs, biodegradable latex foam cushioning, natural cork and rubber foodbeds, heels made from sustainable bamboo, outsoles made with recycled materials, nickel-free metal buckles, recycled paper boxes, and water soluble glues and cements. And with Earth Day 2010 just a few weeks away (April 22nd), you can support an environmentally friendly product and have a fantastic pair of sandals for summer. Click here to view more styles of Naya Shoes.
Here’s a recent video with more information about this fantastic Earth friendly brand. Enjoy!
New Comfort Shoe Brand To Launch Next Year
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The brand will target women with a relaxed and eclectic sense of style and the designs will be casual and more lighthearted than its sister brand, Naturalizer.
The Brown Shoe Company is a global footwear company that owns a variety of popular shoe brands that include Via Spiga, Vera Wang Lavender Label, Naturalizer, Etienne Aigner, Franco Sarto, Dr. Scholl’s, Carlos Santana and Fergie shoes.
Beach Style Eco-Friendly Black Thong Sandals
Here in Seattle, we’ve been having record high temperatures over 100 deg F this week! In fact, many parts of the U.S. are having higher than usual temperatures.
It’s hard to resist writing about all of the cute Fall shoes that are coming out everyday, but this intense Summer heat has me thinking about cooling off at the beach! If you do find yourself at the beach, try these eco-friendly black thong sandals from Soul’s Calling and leave a nice message to inspire others as you walk in the sand.
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The Sole Seekers thong sandal ($22.00) is made with 20% recycled plastic and 10% recycled rubber in the soles. The straps are 100% natural renewable rubber.
