A clog sandal might be what’s missing from your footwear rotation. Easy and nonchalant, a wooden-sole shoe nods to the carefree summers of the ’70s and ’90s—and thanks to the ongoing boho revival, the style feels fresh once again.
That said, I’m not talking about your babysitter’s mall-bought flatforms of the ’90s and early aughts. Today’s iterations are chic and sophisticated, featuring polished gold hardware and luxurious leather, suede, or pony hair fabrications. Choose a towering heel that evokes the disco era or a low-heel slip-on that works for a day of sightseeing or exploring.
You can find many of the sandal clogs designs online by doing a quick search for “designer clog sandals” then you’ll have access to a multitude of models that fit your personal style.
Some brands to note offering beautiful clog sandals
UAE is a growing and developing nation in varying sectors including the fashion and footwear sectors.
I noticed that after attending many fashion events or expos here that there was always a small amount of footwear vendors scattered about in the event space which didn’t draw that much attention from the visitors.
I would suggest any new footwear brand trying to break into the UAE industry must do serious ground work to let the local community get to know you because the lack of multi brand footwear shops and vendors makes it difficult to gain accounts in this region if you are a new brand unless you secure an account with the known chain department stores.
Otherwise you have to make a pretty big name for yourself in order to gain interest in your brand and get locals to buy from you due to brand awareness and not simply on the basis of your design, style and diversity.
I believe that the UAE and Mena area in general will eventually develop an actual footwear industry where local talent will be recognised, and more multi brand footwear shops will open with growing knowledge of shoes, industry, diversity etc by the local market.
There is a huge opportunity for entrepreneurs who have a love of shoes to create businesses that sell exclusive footwear from individual brands in their shops, but what must be present from the local market is interest, knowledge, sense of diverse style, awareness of international talent apart from luxury or mainstream brands etc.
There are challenges for every market that you enter, but when trying to break into a developing nation who’s local market are not familiar nor accustomed to buying a brand just for it’s style and talent nor is there a multitude of local multi brand vendors willing to house them then that presents a huge disadvantage for the new designer brand trying to get discovered.
These are pictures from footwear trading in the west, where shoe shop owners come out to find new designers to house in their boutiques, department stores, atliers etc…
The designers typically set up their stalls, and gain accounts with vendors from all over the world who want to carry their shoes and introduce the brand to their customer base.
I really hate to dump on some manufacturers in the footwear industry but I have to say it, many Pakistani and Indian Manufacturers will lie and cheat, over promise and never deliver on the agreement.
The amount of money I spent in the early years on trying out different manufacturers in these countries and the money I lost along with the samples I just had to chalk up as a loss and just resell them as a one off is too much to renumerate. When you are alone with no help or guidance or connections to manufacturers trying to start a shoe brand then it is a trial and error experience and can get quite expensive quickly.
I searched and tried different craftsman in these countries and I got a few samples done right that I liked, but it was not because they were skilled and honest it just turned out for the good on my end which I am truly grateful for.
However the problem I ran into after the design for the Peshwari sandals and Shargiy sandals were completed and ready for production upon acquiring wholesale accounts from shoe vendors, I learned that the shoe maker could not replica the samples or source the leathers that the shoes were created in. Which put me back to square one because what is the point of marketing samples that cannot be reproduced? No use.
In the craftsman’s reasoning which was lead by greed and deceit just to get my money, was that I show the samples take orders for them and deliver whatever leather they have available at the local market which is absolutely absurd.
Quite frankly when you are dealing with crooks and people hungry for money they lie and don’t tell you the truth for fear of missing the sale, when in reality they lose potential long-term business relationships by lying and not delivering on their manufacturing abilities and promises.
I learned my lesson quickly and decided to keep my samples and resell them as one offs since they could not be produced in the color ways they were created in which was sad and a waste of time in my opinion.
These are only a few pictures that I managed to keep of the collection and it still saddens me that I could not launch them at the time of their creation but everything happens for a reason and when it’s supposed to.
So I came across this funky hip footwear brand out of Argentina called Cecilia Furlan.
I’ve actually been following them for some time and decided to finally write a post about the brand and share them with you.
Some of the best shoes that I’ve bought and worn in the 90’s were from South America from the likes of Brazil, Argentina, Peru etc. They have some of the best shoe makers and very colorful by culture which goes into their shoes inevitably.
According to the designer the brand was started in 2009 and are thriving in the present with a six person crew which is very impressive.
Here is more from the designer:
HELLO! I AM CECI FURLAN, DESIGNER AND CREATOR OF THIS BEAUTIFUL WORLD, MY WORLD …
“After finishing studying textile and clothing design at the University of Córdoba, I began to feel something special about shoes and the need to create those little shoes myself that I imagined, but could not get anywhere.
It was thus that I decided to do a postgraduate degree in Footwear Design and Manufacturing, and finally in 2013 I started the Cecilia Furlan brand. I especially chose my name, precisely to represent those ideas that have been in my head for so long and that continue to inspire me to this day.
From the beginning I wanted our products to be made 100% by hand, through a careful, meticulous and quality process. and with noble materials.
The comfort of the shoe is one of our pillars, and luckily our clients recognize and value it constantly. Quality, comfort and timeless, feminine, and eclectic designs are qualities that have characterized us since our beginnings.
We are a team of 6 people who make all this possible, against all odds, but very happy to achieve it!”
I’m totally a fan of these shoes and I hope you will be as well. So if you would like to purchase some of the shoes then you can visit the site which is in Spanish.
I’m not quite sure if the designer speaks English but there is a WhatsApp icon on the site to contact them directly. Doesn’t hurt to try.
Papucei shoes are one of the funkiest, free spirited , uniquely quirky footwear brands out there.
I have been a fan of this brand from Romania for quite some time and have been following them for years now.
The color contrasts, funky free designs only those who are unique and comfortable in their own skin will dare to wear, and the overall individuality the designer has in creating their shoes.
Have a look at some of my picks from their recent season collection and judge for yourself.
If you love them as I do then head on over to www.papucei.ro and show them some shoe love.
Far long have designers who were admirers of the classic arabian sandal from the gulf region, danced with making their own version of the unique ethnic footwear.
I must admit there is something quite special about the sandals donned by royals and layman alike of Arabia.
Here is a glimpse of the original, authentic , ethnic style of the sandal
Saudi Madas Sharqi worn by a localA more festive detailed pair of the original for ladies….
Now take a look at Jil Sanders version of the classic
She calls them the detailed sandal. Can be purchased Here.
I personally like them and thinks she did an excellent job on modernizing an otherwise very ethnic looking shoe to meet the eclectic updated taste of the western world.
Here is an even more detailed version of the Saudi sandal by Jil Sander
These are my favorite.
Jil Sander isn’t the only designer making this sandals a part of her season collection. Last SS 2019 British Columbian designer Esteban Cortazar created a beautiful detailed version of the Saudi sandal in both flat and heeled styles.
I am all for designers venturing out into other cultures and putting their own touches and twists on the original design. After all that is what being an artist and designer is all about.
There are many versions of the sandal created by many designers and local brands in the Middle East. Take a look and get yourself a pair to stand out from the crowd.
Created by local brand Thaqafah in the United Arab Emirates. Can be purchased Here.
Created by local Emirati brand Tamashee. Can be purchased Here.
I hope you loved the collections just as much as I did. Until next time , stay as chic and fashionable as you are unique and special.
If you want your very own pair of avarcas sandals in any color combination you’d like then make your way over to our Etsy shop to put in your custom order or purchase our ready design sandals.
We gave some fashion ideas to pair your Avarcas with in the pics below.
What I love so much about what I do is never getting board of the new talent that I find in the world. People are unique individuals and they produce things that are unique to them as individuals.
I have stumbled upon a new quirky accessories brand based out of Russia called Plyaka Accessories and they make avengers styled footwear accessories that double as earrings which I thought were so creative.
The accessories have various animation of animal faces , beautiful colored patterns and human animated faces and fringes as its design. Beautiful paired with your favorite shoes to jazz them up or wear them as earrings. From the looks of the brand page on Instagram they also have clothing with some of their designs printed in them which is a plus for those ladies that aren’t into shoes or jewelry.
I absolutely love these creations and find them to be so unique and beautiful. They don’t have a website unfortunately so if you want to purchase then you must contact them through Instagram and their what’s App. @plyaka_accessories
Anat Dahari, the founder ofWalk Handmade Shoes, studied Architecture at the renowned Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design inJerusalem. During her studies she discovered a love for shoe design and after graduating she pursued her passion and studied the art of footwear craftsmanship from local tradesmen. Anat’s architectural background influences her design aesthetic, resulting in geometrical shapes for the person who seeks a classic and timeless look with simple and clean elegance.
If you are a fan like we are and like what you see and would like to purchase, then visit them Here.
I love finding out about new shoe brands. Especially ones that are female-driven & incredibly original, like Dondoks, designed by two fabulous Parisian show girls with flare!
When shoes are this extraordinary, there’s usually an exciting story behind them. And Dondoks — a Paris-based, Brazillian-made shoe brand — is no exception, as it was born from a deep seeded love and friendship!
Carmen and Charlotte met while working together in wondrous places: as showgirls at the Moulin Rouge, the Lido in Paris and modelling for Jean Paul Gaultier. And of course, they became instant friends!
Both ladies are professionally trained dancers from Mexico and France, respectively. Charlotte, while working, was also studying fashion business at ESMOD in Paris, which helped the duo with creating their brand. And of all places, because she and I are actually fellow alumni!
The ladies’ shared passion for shoes, the Parisian lifestyle & a flair for the exotic is how Dondoks was born. And if anyone is curious as per the name, it comes from a Brazilian expression that means “daddy’s girl”.
The brand’s motto is high quality and high fun & the resulting product is just that!
Colorful & stunningly creative, Dondoks shoes are not your average ho-hum footwear!
The polar opposite of ubiquitous mass production, the Dondoks brand wants to raise awareness of high quality materials & local production and ethical practices. Handmade from stunning leathers & materials in Brazil by artisans, Dondoks’ current Spring/Summer 2018 “Candy Rainbow” collection — composed of 4 shoe designs — embodies fun, glamour & sophistication.
There’s a definite Moulin Rouge feel throughout the collection, which I’m totally here for! I love that their designs are whimsical & girly, yet not unwearable. They have girly pink frou-frou styles, yet you can also achieve the same vibe in more neutral colorways such as black & peach. And as all shoes should, they will add panache to any of your outfits this season!
As per the fit of the shoes, they do work best for a slim to medium sized foot. The black & white Mely sandal fits true to size, while the Frida flat (pictured in this post in blue and emerald), does fit rather small. I would size up. Each pair of shoes is shipped in a solid color-blocked shoe box & includes a pink branded satin shoe bag.
Style Diversity 