Comfort, Consciousness and Shoes – do exist together
While summer’s heat lurks around the corner, a cooler mindset surrounds OKA b. footwear (www.shoesthatloveyou.com) as the company prepares to unveil its 2010 Winter Collection of sandals, thongs, flip-flops and slides at the New York Shoe Expo, inspired by the calming tones of the Mediterranean seascape.
Known for its spa-like craftsmanship of shoes that pamper the foot, OKA b.’s Winter Collection infuses the warm hues of fall with the allure of holiday and destination travel, offering a stylish and affordable luxury that’s too comfortable to leave behind at summer’s end.
As with all of OKA b.’s footwear, shoes in the Winter Collection feature the company’s signature reflexology inspired massage beads and ergonomic footbeds, are waterproof, antibacterial and made in the USA, offered at price points under $40. OKA b. shoes are carried at fine resort spas and gift shops worldwide.
I received a pair of OKA b. thong sandals to review. I tried them on and unpacked them live on Momtv.com (sorry for the name confusion I thought the lower case b was an l and that is my only complaint). My son saw the sandals, looked at my husband and said “Whose shoes are those?” DH answered “Mommy’s” and my son’s face lit up as he said “Mommy has cool gold shoes.”
My adult vision perceived these as a wonderfully flecked copper color, perfect for summer and poised to reflect strolls along the beaches of San Trope. I wanted to recoil from the thong strap between the toes because I hate sandals with thongs, but these were extremely comfortable. I was able to wear them 8 hours all throughout Chicago at street fairs, festivals and walking through puddles and gravel. I hate to admit it, but I even wore them as I helped my 1 year old son ride his first pony. Granted, open toed shoes around ponies that have been tied to a walker all day –not a good idea; however, these wonderful sandals are anti-microbial and can be thrown right in the wash (no drying).
As and avid gym goer, these are perfect to protect your tootsies from the questionable shower floors, great to wear poolside, and make a cute shoe to wear out on summer days. They fit true to size, as I wear an 8.5 and these were great. For the last week I have enjoyed throwing these on after my Zumba classes to give my feet a mini-massage with the massage beads that are embedded in the sandal. My feet feel much relaxed after all of that heart pounding, booty shaking, fast footwork. I even wear them as a slipper around the house, that’s how much I like them.
The best part? MSRP of $20 for the pair I received, called the Chloe. After visiting the company site I was interested to see they offer a wider variety of more fashionable shoes, which was going to be a complaint – that these were a little blah, but now I can not longer say that. On the left is the pair I received, on the right I pair I would purchase to wear out the Juliet which I feel are cute enough with silk roses to wear as a bride during a beach wedding. Check out their site for slip ons, bejeweled, and heel varieties. I assumed these to be vegan as there were no animal products. A little searching on their site revealed even more great news:
OKA b. Shoe and Sandal Information
Everyone knows OKA b. shoes are cute and comfortable, but they are so much more than just a pretty accessory. Here are a few things you may not have known about OKA b. products that set them apart from other comfort shoes in the market:
Reflexology-Inspired Design
The therapeutic principles of reflexology guide the design of OKA b. products. All of our shoes feature an ergonomic footbed enhanced with massage beads to pamper feet with every step.
Antimicrobial & Odor Resistant
OKA b.’s non–absorbent material resists the growth of mildew, fungus and bacteria. A great feature for spas and resorts!
Non-Slip & Non-Marking
OKA b. shoes are slip-resistant, providing stability on wet or dry terrain. Our colorful shoes won’t leave marks on the floor.
Microplast® Technology
Proprietary Microplast® technology provides a lightweight, flexible shoe that remains comfortable and durable. Microplast’s chemical make up is Poly Vinyl Chloride which is actually made fromsalt and fossil fuel.
Machine Washable & Colorfast
OKA b.’s non-absorbent material makes our shoes machine washable and easy to sanitize. Keep your feet clean and healthy – your OKA b.s will resist fading even through repeated washings.
One-Piece Construction
All OKA b. shoes, including thongs, feature one–piece construction for superior durability and comfort.
Endless Color Combinations
OKA b. offers a diverse color palette and style selection that allows you to create the perfect fit for your retail environment.
Made in the U.S.A.
The OKA b. design team and factory are located north of metro Atlanta in Buford, Georgia. On–site manufacturing allows for unmatched quality control and attention to detail.
Vegan Friendly
Our processes are friendly not only to our environment but to its natural inhabitants as well. OKA b. does not use animal by-products of any kind in the manufacturing process.
Environmentally Conscious
OKA b. shoes are recyclable according to International Universal Recycling Code Number 3. Customers can now send their well–loved shoes to our corporate headquarters, where they will be ground and mixed with virgin material to create new product. To learn more about this program, click here.
