Once upon a time, about 5 years ago, I went on my first ever Press Event for Disney. I was SO excited to find some Pixie Dust in my inbox, and I hurriedly packed for my adventure.
Of course in my haste, I forgot to pack comfortable shoes. In fact, I didn't pack ANY shoes....Except for the heeled boots I was wearing.
Bad move. Bad, bad, Rookie mistake.
So once I settled into my fabulous Los Angeles area hotel, I was thrilled to find that the gift shop had the most adorable sandals made from recyclable materials. They were soft, well-constructed and comfortable, and had the prettiest embellishments on them. They were from a brand called Oka-b, and I fell in love immediately.
I wish I had gotten a photo of these sandals. They were GORGEOUS. Princess-worthy, even.
Little did I know that the very day I returned home, my Dog, who is aptly named Trouble, would destroy them beyond repair. Sigh.
Fast forward 5 years, and imagine my excitement when I found an e-mail from Oka-b's Parent company, Okabashi, in my inbox! Since I was already familiar with the amazing quality and comfort, I jumped at the chance to check out Okabashi's line of Vegan, cruelty-free, recyclable shoes. Did I mention these puppies are also American made? Okay. Just making sure.
Anyway, the awesome folks at Okabashi sent me a couple pairs of their best selling women's shoes to check out for myself. There are tons of different styles and colors available, from flip flops and sandals to clogs. Oh, and the color selection? Super fun and flirty!
And yes, there are styles for men,too. Although I'm pretty sure most dudes don't consider their footwear flirty. It's a Gal Thing, guys. You simply wouldn't understand.
Anyway, the first pair of shoes I chose are the simple yet stylish Indigo Epic Flip Flop in Brown/Brown. The Indigo Epic combines comfort and support to make this two-piece sandal great for everyday wear. Strategically-placed reflexology beads on the ergonomic foot-bed gently massage and stimulate feet.
These shoes are amazingly comfortable, and I really love the 2 piece styling of these. The brown fabric is soft and doesn't irritate my skin. And of course the footbed is soft, supportive, and heavenly to walk on.
The Indigo Epic can be worn with just about anything, and could easily be dressed up or down, depending on the occasion.
I also decided to have some fun with color. Anyone who knows me in real life knows I am most comfortable in colorful, tie dye skirts or crazy leggings and tunics or Activism T-shirts.
Color and I are the bestest of friends. I like color.
My favorite color? That gorgeous shade of blue seen in that iconic Audrey Hepburn movie...You know...The one about that high-end jeweler with the little blue boxes that made a woman's heart skip a beat?
Well....The Splash Flip Flops from Okabashi? They come in that fabulously drool-worthy color!
Overall, I am beyond delighted with my Okabashi experience. These shoes are insanely comfy, and oh-so-cute, too. And since they are sustainable, cruelty-free, and eco-friendly, they appeal to the activist side of me, too. That's kind of a big deal to me. I love working with brands that care about their impact on both the environment and society as a whole.
And yes....Even though Okabashi's styling is more minimalistic than their sister brand Oka-b, I felt like Cinderella when she found her missing glass slipper when I slipped my feet into my new Okabashi shoes. They are truly THAT amazing.
Seriously, these are the perfect summer shoes. You're going to need a pair or 10 of these this summer season!
You can check out these and other Vegan, sustainable styles on the Okabashi website.
You can also connect with Okabashi on Facebook, on twitter, and on Instagram to stay on top of their latest news, styles, and promotions.