We set out to create an ethical, high quality women's shoe about 2 years ago. We know a thing or two about shoe making because we have been in the shoe business our entire careers.  After seeing the damaging effects of fashion on the planet over our careers, we  knew there had to be a better way to make shoes. We created the BENDY, a modern, comfortable shoe, with a lower carbon footprint. It is made in California.  This is Ashbury Skies first, proprietary shoe brand. We use the highest quality materials and we look at every step in the shoe making process through an environmentally responsible lens. I hope you love what we created. Take a look here

Our Ethically made shoe: The BENDY

marysue | Indie Shoe Blog for Women

Foolproof tips on picking comfortable women shoes.

If you are like most women, you have many pairs of shoes in your closet.  Of course, we all have statement shoes or stiletto heels that look amazing but are not so comfortable. Women have been known to tolerate a fairly high pain threshold to look good.  There are times and places for these kinds of shoes, I get it. But then there are times when you need a shoe for standing all day; a time when a sneaker is not an option. Any modern woman needs a shoe that falls in the feels-great-and-looks-awesome category.  I am talking about the kind where your feet are forgotten after you slip them on. These types of shoes are harder to come by. That led me to take a deep dive into the essentials of a comfortable shoe that you could stand in all day.

The most comfortable and supportive shoes have these things in common:

1.  Flexibility. Pick up a shoe and twist and bend it.  It needs to have some give. This is critical in comfort footwear. Throughout the day your foot moves in many directions and you don’t want your foot fighting with a shoe that is too structured.

2. Rubber soles. Buy shoes with rubber soles for optimum shock absorption. This is very important if you are standing all day

3. Insoles/footbeds. Choose shoes that have breathable and pliable insoles. A good one will provide support and cushioning to the foot.  Insoles help prevent chafing and blistering.  A well-designed insole will mold to the foot. Test a shoe for cushioning by pressing your finger into the ball area.  It should have give or a slightly padded feel.

4. Leather or suede upper.  Leather and suede form to your foot so the more you wear it, the more comfortable it will become.  Leather is breathable and is an ideal choice for footwear.  Avoid synthetics, these materials don’t breathe and will cause the foot to sweat and you will have a higher chance of blistering and foot odor.

Mary Sue Papale is the co founder of Ashbury Skies and the Bendy: a modern, comfortable shoe with a conscience. She is based in San Francisco.

Caroline and I visited the factory this week and we are thrilled with the way the BENDY is turning out! The suede colors are vibrant, the bottoms are flexible and the workmanship is very high quality from our Los Angeles workshop. And when you step into them, they cushy and comfy on the foot :) We expect the BENDY to be available in  January 2019 on our site. This has been a long time in the making and it will be an exciting day for me personally when we officially launch our modern, comfortable sneaker x flat that is made with a lower carbon footprint. Shop here in Jan 2019

Below are some images I snapped this week at our workshop.

marysue | Indie Shoe Blog for Womenmarysue | Indie Shoe Blog for Womenmarysue | Indie Shoe Blog for Womenmarysue | Indie Shoe Blog for Women

Every purchase you make will leave a footprint on the planet. We all understand the importance of responsible consumption, yet there are few guidelines or road maps. Ethical shoe shopping can be tricky but there are many things you can start to do right now to make a difference. Thankfully, many shoe brands are using ethical and responsible principles when building their products. This list will help you know what to look for to lower emissions, reduce landfill or to ensure workers were treated fairly and paid and honest wage when making your pair.

marysue | Indie Shoe Blog for Women

3. Fair trade brands

These brands help craftsman and sometimes, women in particular, in developing countries achieve higher economic and social standards. They tend to be high quality and handmade. Central and South America and Southeast Asia are both known for their communities of shoemakers. Buying from fair trade brands ensure workers have been paid fair wages and work in safe conditions.

4. Ethically sourced

More and more shoe companies are starting to use recycled, natural, or responsibly produced raw materials when making their products. All of this matters and ultimately results in less carbon emissions. If something that would be otherwise discarded is being reused in your shoes, that equates to less landfill. If an upper material is natural or responsibly sourced, that typically means that less energy is used in the making of it as compared to a typical shoe. All of this means that the process of making your shoe is kinder and gentler on the planet.

5. Handcrafted in the US label

Since shoes made in the US don’t have to be transported over vast distances, they offer a lower carbon footprint. There are some cool brands starting to make shoes in Los Angeles now. Made in US also means higher standards for workers and for the environment. The US has national, state and local laws in place that regulate how workers are treated: minimum wages, overtime, and safety. Also, laws regulate waste processing, use of chemicals, water usage and recycling. Many of these things don’t exist overseas.

We made and big announcement this week for our BENDY brand! We always knew we wanted to handcraft great shoes but we also wanted to get our industry to slow down and rethink its outdated practices.  As part of our mission to reduce the toll footwear takes on people and the planet, we’ve partnered with Pacific Northwest College of Art’s PENSOLE program to create an Ethical Shoe Design Course, a first-of-its-kind intensive course training for footwear designers in all aspects of sustainable design and ethical manufacturing, from concept to market. There’s really nothing out there for working and student designers today, despite the evidence that this kind of professional development education is sorely needed. WE are very excited that this came together. We were waiting for the right social mission to come to us and it finally did.To learn more about the BENDY here