Green Cinderella: proof that shoes can change your life

New styles: part 3

Song of the day: Girls on Film by Duran Duran

Yesterday I wrote about our love of patterns, today its all about our love of silver. Its such a great substitute for black or gray, and manages to be neutral without ever being boring.

The first favorite pair of shoes I can remember were silver, pointed toe flat slingbacks from ESPRIT, around 1987. I wish I had a picture of them, they were amazing. I wore them without socks in the middle of snow in the freezing cold Minnesota winter and I did not care. My Grandma kept buying me knee-high nylons but it was no use - I was suffering for fashion from an early age.

I think I've wised up a little, and we did our best to avoid any suffering with a chunkier high heel and a low heel - easy to walk in and just enough height to make you feel dressed up. Like the others, these will be available in December- we'll keep you posted! In the meantime, enjoy!

Carolina:

 

Chantelle:

Believe the Hype!

Song of the day: Prove my Love by Violent Femmes

When you drive into Brooklyn, there is a big sign that says “Welcome to Brooklyn- Believe the Hype!”

Now I don’t know about you, but if there is a large sign telling me to believe the hype about a much-hyped place, I’m going to go ahead and assume that it’s going to suck. (I mean really Mayor Bloomberg, don’t you think most of your famously skeptical constituents would react that way? Play it down for God’s sake.)

So I was more than surprised when it not only didn’t suck, but I had more fun within a 4-block radius than I have in long time. And that’s saying a lot because I’ve honestly been having such a good time in NY I feel like a kid in a candy store. A very expensive, dirty candy store that sometimes has chicken bones on the floor, but one where the salted caramel-covered chocolate is so good you don’t even notice.

Anyway, my point is that sometimes places, people and products live up to the hype. Like Brooklyn. Like Paris. Like the rooftop at Juliet in Williamsburg. The key difference is where the hype is coming from – ideally it should come from someone completely unbiased. I fully expect people to not believe what we have to say about our shoes, but instead listen to what real customers have to say. With that in mind, here’s just a few of the unsolicited emails we’ve received from customers about Charmoné shoes- believe the hype! (PS- this should also answer the question of whether or not we ship internationally!)

(PPS- no idea why there are so many from the UK, perhaps the English really are more polite?)

“Hi Jodi,
I received the shoes this morning. They are so beautifuuuuuuuul! and so well done (well, they are made in Italy!....;-)))”

… Italy
 

“I just wanted to let you know that my boots arrived on Saturday and they’re just as beautiful as the pictures show. I feel like Cinderella! They fit perfectly.  

 Thank you again for all your help getting these wonderful boots delivered to me.  The service you have provided more than exceeded my expectations, and I can’t tell you how happy I am to have found cruelty free boots that look as great as these ones!  

 It’s a great message to get across to people that there are alternatives and I think people are finally starting to see the bigger picture. I’m going to a vegan fair in October and I’ll tell everyone I meet how fantastic you are.”   

…UK
 

“Thanks, Jodi.  I received the shoes, they are beautiful, what great design! Thanks for everything you do and giving us a non-leather alternative!”

….San Francisco

 
“Just a quick line to let you know I have received my shoes.  They fit well, feel so comfortable and I am very pleased.  They are beautifully made and the quality is brilliant. Now I have had the opportunity I will have no hesitation in ordering again. I eagerly wait your new collection and look forward to seeing it when it is ready.
Thanks again!”

…UK
 

“Hi Jodi - i received my two pairs of shoes - they fit!  And I LOVE them.  They're so well made and gorgeous to look at. Thanks so much. I look forward to wearing them at every opportunity!”

…LA

“Thanks so much for my beautiful, beautiful shoes they are perfect & so comfortable. I shall definitely be ordering from you again and telling all my friends about your fab site!
Thanks for making it so much easier to be elegant & stylish as a vegan!”

…UK

Livin' Large: Over (size) 40 and Fabulous!

Song of the Day: The World at Large by Modest Mouse

Women are often insecure about their shoe size. I never knew this until I started a shoe business and started asking for sizes. Unless they wear a shoe size 7 or smaller, women are usually embarrassed to say their size out loud, and they almost always start with the smallest possible size they could squeeze into. I completely understand this with jeans, but shoes? The phrase we hear most often is “oh, my feet are HUGE! They are a… 9 or 10.” Even size 8s utter this self deprecating expression more often than not.

Listen ladies- its bad enough that we feel the need to worry about our dress size, jeans size, age and everything else related to our outward appearance. Let’s leave the poor feet alone. Most of the models we’ve worked with wear at least a size 10 shoe. The size of your foot cannot be exercised away and is usually consistent with your height, so get over yourself, bigfoot (only kidding), and check out the “huge” number of styles available in 41 and 42, which roughly translates to size 10 and 11 in U.S. sizes:

From the High Art Collection:
- Bellini (42 only- actually runs large and may fit a size 12)
- Caravaggio in both Espresso (41 and 42) and Graphite (42 only)
- Cinnamon in Black (41 and 42)
- Cezanne in Noir (Black) and Antique Garden (42 only)
High Tea Collection:
- Darjeeling in Noir (Black) and Moss (41 and 42 in both colors)
- Gunpower in Noir (Black) (41 and 42 in both colors)
- Marco Polo in Moss and Slate (41 and 42 in both colors)
Herb Collection:
- Licorice in Chocolate (41 only)
- Gingko in Red (41 only), Espresso Bean (42 only)
- Ginseng in Espresso Bean(42 only), Grass Print (41 and 42)
Butterfly Collection:
- Monarch in Cool Blues (41 only)

Caravaggio in Espresso

The Secret to Partnership Success

Song of the Day: I Can Tell That We Are Gonna be Friends: White Stripes

When we started our business, one of the things we heard most often was to be careful of partnerships. The standard advice is that they don’t work. And while I know there are hundreds of examples of failed partnerships, I can say without a doubt that I wouldn’t want to do this any other way.

I first met Lauren while interviewing her to be my boss at a software start-up in Silicon Valley. She was being brought in by one of the top executives and it was pretty clear that my “interview” was just a courtesy gesture to make me feel like I wasn’t totally unimportant. As I scanned her resume, I thought, great, this chick is going to be totally harsh. After all, she was from New York, had an MBA, and had come from a few companies famous for having cut-throat environments. Your basic nightmare.

But then I found a gem at the bottom of her resume- she went to F.I.T. While this did not ease my concern of her being a scary harsh New Yorker, it did pique my interest and give me something to talk about during the faux interview. I was surprised to find someone that was not only smart but also hilarious, easy going (who knew New Yorkers could be mellow?) and all-around wonderful. Even when the company we worked for was going down in flames, she always had a positive attitude, made the best of it, and most importantly, made me laugh. 

It’s those same qualities that have made our partnership so smooth. We laugh through EVERYTHING. The truth is, I never really wanted to start a business, I just wanted to work in fashion. It was Lauren that had the idea to make vegan shoes, and it was Lauren that made the idea of starting a business fun. I started doing research and found that while vegan shoes already existed (I really thought she was the first person to ever think of this), most were not eco-friendly or sweatshop-free. Or stylish. Seeing a hole in the market and feeling a pull towards creating something both fun and meaningful, we jumped in and haven’t looked back since. We’ve had an incredible amount of ups and downs since starting Charmone, but one thing I can rely on is that ever-present sense of humor and even-keel attitude. Not only does having a partner make the ride a lot more fun, collaboration creates more ideas and momentum than I would ever be able to create on my own. I think if you’re both committed, always give one another the benefit of the doubt, and set aside ego, partnerships can not only work but be more rewarding than you ever thought possible. Here's a pic of us laughing our way through a Chinese New Year party at London Fashion Week!

 

A Fashion Cleansing: Recycling your shoes and clothes

Song of the day: Waste by Phish

Despite the Phish song and the fact that we make shoes that are vegan, eco-friendly and sweatshop-free, the women of Charmone are no hippies. Not even close. So it bothers me that today as everyone is talking about waste, overindulgence and consumption, a lot of people are pointing fingers while others are feeling very guilty. Someone once told me that guilt was intended to prevent you from doing something that would hurt you or someone else- otherwise, it’s pretty worthless. So why feel guilty for doing something you love if it doesn’t harm anyone else? Unless you’ve forced your family into the poorhouse over your love of fashion, just relax… and recycle. Enjoy your new stilettos, wear them to death, and when you’re over them- send them off to Soles4Souls.
 
Soles4souls is a charity with the simple mission to impact as many lives as possible with the gift of shoes. I’ve known about them for awhile, but I was a little stuck at the idea of sending Charmone “dress” shoes to them – I thought they were too impractical for many of the countries they deal with. After talking with them, I learned that they accept ALL types of shoes and almost always find a home for them – including that odd single shoe that’s been hiding in the back of your closet!

And as for clothing, go through your closets at least twice per year and pull out everything that doesn’t fit (and never will), doesn’t look good (and never did) and that you really just don’t ever wear. Pack it up and get yourself to either Goodwill or Salvation Army before you change your mind! Don’t fall into the trap of “I paid so much for it, I really should try to sell it or give it to a friend” or the “well, it might come back in style/might fit again later/etc.” traps. Everyone makes fashion mistakes, let others benefit from yours. Don’t worry if an item is out of style or worn to death- both Goodwill and Salvation Army will even take the fabric and recycle it into dishrags or other needed items- there’s always a way to make a new life out of something! Cleaning out your closet is a great way to help others while also clearing both your physical and mental clutter- try it and see!

 

 

A Different Kind of Fashion Inspiration

Song of the Day: Magic from Xanadu

Last night I had the opportunity to re-watch the movie: What the Bleep Do We Know? 

If you haven’t seen it, I highly recommend this amazing look into Quantum Physics and the power of the mind. At one point the movie showcases the work of Masura Emoto, a Japanese scientist who found that water molecules became vibrant when placed on positive words and deformed when on negative words. The thinking goes that if we are 70% water, what would happen if we wore positive messages on our body?

Well a cool little company called ZENsei is trying to find out. I came across them late last summer when I bought the "Summer Dress"  pictured here,

largely because it looks fabulous with the Gingko flats and more pulled together for running errands than sweats (not that I would really wear sweats). What I didn’t notice until later was that there was a message on the inside of the dress that read:

Be Fearless.
Understand You Have the Strength and Power to Do
Whatever You Choose.

Now I tend to get really excited about dresses and may sometimes feel that I have a relationship with them, but this is the first time one talked to me! This was particularly cool because I was going through a bit of a rough time and I felt like this message was exactly what I needed, when I needed it. And now that it's summer again and life is getting more and more “interesting”, it’s once again the perfect dress at the perfect time.

For something more eco-friendly, check out this awesome hoodie made of organic cotton and lycra! 

And whatever you’re wearing, be aware of the subtle and no-so-subtle messages you take in every day. If they make you feel bad, stop listening to them. Life is too short, and, it could be the dress talking, but I do think You Have the Strength and Power to Do Whatever You Choose.

You have to believe we are magic.
Nothin' can stand in our way.
You have to believe we are magic.
Don't let your aim ever stray.

A friend to everyone is a friend to no one

Song for the day: My way: Frank Sinatra

As I was listening to Frank this afternoon while sorting shoes, I couldn’t help remembering something my Grandma once said about him. He was coming to town and I asked her if she wanted tickets. I figured he was from her generation, so of course she would like him. She rolled her eyes, waved her hand and said:  “I wouldn’t so much as cross the street to SPIT on him!*”

Now I’m not sure what Old Blue Eyes did to offend her so much, but I never had to wonder how she felt about him. Or anything else for that matter. She always makes it extremely clear how she feels, and it’s always 100%, whole hearted, no holds barred. Ask her about the popovers at The Oak Grill Room and they are “out of this world”, ask her how she felt about Bob Barker retiring and it was “just awful”… I don’t think I’ve ever heard her be neutral about anything.

Some people find that off-putting - they would rather you smile, nod and be agreeable about everything. I have certainly fallen victim to this many times over the years, but as I get older I am much more comfortable being like my grandma.

This is particularly important in design. Everyone has an opinion and it’s easy to get sidetracked from your vision. Everyone has advice: “make lots of high heels, something very editorial for the press”; “no, no, do flats, older women want flats”, or my personal favorite "when are you going to get over this whole eco thing?”… it goes on and on. And when you’re a newer designer you tend to be eager to please, you want people to like you. But when you aim to please everyone you end up pleasing no one, least of all yourself. 

So there are a few things that you’ll just never see at Charmoné, even if its super trendy. Western, for one. I just cannot deal. Same goes for the manly, winged-tip men’s adaptations that have been hot the last few seasons. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that”, but for us, we just can’t make anything that we wouldn’t wear ourselves. It’s not always easy to stick to your guns, but in the end we hope that doing it “our way” will please just the right people, including ourselves. 

*The views of Jodi’s Grandma do not necessarily reflect those of Charmoné or its owners. And no one was spit on during the writing of this blog.

Faux is not a 4-letter word

Song of the day: Damn it feels good to be a gangsta by Ghetto Boys

So often we say something without really thinking about the meaning behind it, especially if it’s a commonly accepted assumption. I’m always struck when people balk at the price tag on a vegan item and say something like “its not even leather!” The logic goes that if its leather, it must be better, and therefore it can (and should) be expensive. I used to fall for this myself. And rightly so – there were (are?) plenty of faux leathers out there that just screamed cheap and plastic! Rest assured, this type of faux goes no where near our shoes.

Part of the reason we started Charmoné was to challenge the status quo. We wondered why no one was making vegan shoes that were attractive and high quality, and our first assumption was that it couldn’t be done. In fact, no one was doing it simply because no one wanted to challenge the perception that leather is a requirement for high quality. It’s so ingrained in the world of luxury that none of the big companies dared to challenge it. And I can’t blame them – why risk it? I’m not wagging my finger at leather, I’m just saying, let’s broaden our experience and challenge our assumptions.

But we knew there was a demand for vegan/eco-chic, and we also knew nothing of making shoes- which made it a whole lot easier to go in with an open mind and evaluate all the amazing textile options out there. The high tech microfibers we use in place of leather are often more expensive than leather simply because they wear better, they stand up to water better and they last longer. Four years into this and I’m still wearing our first samples – to death- and they are in excellent condition!

And that’s keepin’ it real.

A Muse

A few years ago I was at a crossroads. My last high-tech job was winding down. So much so that my employer “converted” my status from a full-time employee to a consultant in January of 2003 so that they could avoid paying out the bonus I earned the year before (a totally illegal maneuver, by the way). The economy and the job market were tough then – much as it is now – and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do. I remember going on one interview at another small technology start-up and I could barely answer questions in a believable manner. “Yes, I love writing long, dry, boring technical white papers that no one will read just to make the geek CTO happy.” It was getting increasingly difficult saying such things without wanting to throw up in my mouth a little.

Anyhow, it was around this time that one of my oldest friends Colleen called. She was in town, which was rare since she moved to Ireland when we started junior high school. We kept in touch over the years, mostly through letters. During college, she would spend summers in the US, which was always fun. In more modern times, emails a few times a year. In 2003, it was really nice to see her in the dark winter months of my employment discontent. We had a long chat about what we were doing professionally and neither of us was very happy with our chosen career paths and we were looking to make some changes. Colleen had been a vegetarian for many years as many of my friends are, and I pulled my cocktail party sarcasm with her. “You wouldn’t eat a hamburger, but your shoes and bag are leather. How can you do that?” This may sound obnoxious, but this is New York and it’s really a gentle poke – not a serious criticism.

And I truly wondered how so many vegetarians and vegans could do the same thing with their passion for animals. We had a long chat about how there were really no other options. Most of the non-leather shoes she said were cheap-feeling and uncomfortable not to mention having little to no style. She said that if there were a cool non-leather shoe, she’d be thrilled. In that moment, I told her that this was a million dollar idea.

I thought about that conversation on and off for a few months. It was an idea that never really left me. I did some research and thought that the idea had legs. But life got busy. I had a second child, and a few months later I clued Jodi in to “the big idea” of a vegan shoe company, and we started moving it forward about a year later.

I think it’s important to acknowledge Colleen; she was an inspiration and a muse of sorts. And if you’ll afford me a Forrest Gump moment: Life is like a game of pinball; you never know who you’re going to bounce off of and what new direction you may head in.

By Lauren Carroll

Image: Colleen holding a Charmone shoe, which she helped to inspire!