I'm a Fashion Editor and I'm Blown Away By These Eco-Friendly Heels
Rachel Richardson
When it comes to heels, we have a lot of options, but it's actually very rare to find a fancy footwear brand that boldly makes many promises upfront — and actually delivers. Well, that's precisely what Ma'am Shoes did, and I'm so here for it. The new Los Angeles-based brand came out the gate declaring that women no longer have to make the choice between style and comfort, and took it a step further by using sustainable materials to locally source and produce their very cute and colorful line of quality-made sandals, heels, and ankle boots (which are coming soon).
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Shop now: $300; maamshoes.com
My interest piqued immediately when I scanned the site for more details, and was pleasantly surprised to find that Ma'am stood for so much more than just pretty suede shoes. The eco-conscious line makes it known that they are created by women for women, and is on a mission to make the world a better place. Naturally, there's strong sentiments of female empowerment and equality on their minimalistic packaging, and upon closer inspection, I discovered that Ma'am has even partnered with nonprofit organizations like United States of Women and I Am a Voter to give back and make an impact where it counts. If there was a footwear election in the fashion world, I would definitely be casting my vote for Ma'am Shoes.
So when the brand offered to send me a pair of their pretty Ruth heels, I took them out for a spin to see how they performed. I wore them to brunch followed by a city stroll afterwards, and felt cool, confident, and totally comfortable. The (very) manageable heel height made for an enjoyable day out with zero complaints, and as it turns out, the Ma'am team tested various heel heights, widths, insoles, outsoles, and fabrications to nail the perfect equation for consumers to stay comfortable on their feet in order to "walk the walk." Love that.
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"At Ma'am, we reject the idea that taller is better and that women need to have throbbing feet to be powerful," the website proclaims. Music to my ears. The older I get, I've come to terms that more sensible heel heights are better for my joints (did I really just say that?) and overall mood, because after all, no one likes limping around in towering heels that take a toll on your precious feet.
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This particular style comes in four fun colors, and the soft petal pink shade that I picked out was a nice departure from the typical tan and neutral shades I usually gravitate towards in the fall. At $300, these shoes aren't cheap, but the quality and girl power backstory of the brand is well worth it, if you ask me.
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Shop now: $300; maamshoes.com
And later this month, Ma'am is expanding their line to offer ankle boots in a rich, inky indigo shade featuring a cool cylinder heel. As if they weren't enticing enough, for every pair of Shirley Boots sold, $10 will be donated to Baby2Baby, a non-profit organization that provides diapers, clothing, and more to children living in poverty.
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Shop now: $350; maamshoes.com
In short, Ma'am Shoes is making a difference in more ways than one.
