Sugar Shoes
Ain’t they sweet? They’re made by Sugar Shoes and this particular style is called Smokin’ Cat Birds’ Nest on Navy. I think they’re adorable! Great jean shoes. I purchased them at a great new shop in Oakland, CA called Micio Mambo, located at 474 Santa Clara Ave., across the street from Grand Lake Theater. If you’re in the area, check it out. (And if you’re not in the area, go on-line — the website will be up soon!)
The shop is owned and run by a very cool woman named Ursula who has been a vegan for years and a vegetarian for even more years and has lots of experience in the retail industry. Ursula has ventured out on her own to create this store as an extension of herself. Everything in the shop — mens’ and womens’ shoes and accessories, cosmetics, jewelry, skincare products and more — is leather-free, cruelty-free and environmentally friendly. Even the store fixtures are recycled and/or re-used: the carpeting is made from recycled materials, the pink and white paint on the walls is from paint Ursula had left over at her house, the picture frames on the walls featuring images of kitties that have had a significant place in her life (”Micio” means “kitty” in Italian, I was told) are old paned windows and the display case was purchased at a flea market.
I spent over an hour in the shop just chatting with Ursula who I swear would be a friend if I lived in California full-time. Her store is welcoming as is she. She has great plans to make the shop a place for a community to evolve and she says when the upstairs construction is finished, she’ll find a couple of kitties in need of a home to call the place casa. In addition to walking out actually IN my new sweet sneakers, which, btw, were several dollars less than at other shops and websites, I also left with a new eyeshadow and a lip balm with mint oil. I LOVE mint oil! I could just have easily left with a soy candle which doubles as body cream after it’s burned or a ring made of recycled silver! I have no doubt I’ll be back there again to visit Ursula and to meet her kitties and to probably walk out with some other chic stuff!
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