I just got back from a trip to New York City.  Before the trip, I’d spent a really long time looking for sensible, but attractive flats, so I could walk around the city and still look presentable.  Unfortunately, the flats I bought weren’t as sensible as I thought, and by the afternoon of my first day, my blisters had blisters, my feet were bruised, and I was miserable.

I was wandering around SoHo, dreading the trek back to my hotel, when suddenly, there was a pop-up Terra Plana store, set up just for their current end of season sale.  The salesman, Phil, was super helpful, and helped me find an adorable pair of flats with a recycled quilt inset.  The shoes have a flexible sole with rubber triangles for traction, and move with my feet, instead of rubbing against them. They totally saved me!

And, Terra Plana has a fantastic environmental policy.  They use minimal glue, vegetable tanned leathers, recycled rice husks, and recycled materials like quilts, old coats and parachute fabric, from locally sourced materials whenever possible.  The linings of the shoes employ a chrome-free “eco-foam,” and the shoes themselves are lightweight, not only to make them easy to wear, but to make them easy to ship using less energy.  Phil even took the shoe box back for recycling right then and there.

I am in love with these shoes! I wore them right out of the store.  I love the way they allow my feet to flex fully when I walk, and I love the little details, like the green stitching on the side, the purple quilt inset, and the ruffled leather at the toe and the heel.  I wish I’d had these shoes all along, but I am so glad I found them when I did!