Dark Night Laurel Mary Janes 8824101017

Through recognizing the complexity, patience, and meticulous work involved in craftsmanship, we gain a deeper understanding of our shoes. Our visits to our artisan partners in India made us realize how the value of craft is deeply embedded in Indian culture and society. It taught us that shoes are not just disposable commodities, easily replaceable. Shoes made with care demand to be cherished with love. Unlike fast fashion, which detaches us from the supply chain behind a product, making us prone to discard without much thought, artisan-made shoes teach us to treasure what we have, as we are connected to a face, a family, or a culture behind what we wear.

The better you care for your shoes, the longer they will last and look great. In general, we clean shoes much more than we need to. Cleaning shoes wastes water and energy, breaks down materials, fades colors, and releases tiny microplastics into our oceans. It’s impossible to skip cleaning them altogether, but it’s good to be mindful of what’s in your shoe basket and skip cleaning until it’s truly needed.