San Francisco Independent Fashion
Yes, we love sky-high heels. But sometimes we just want to kick it in comfort (like, incidentally, right now). And for that, we can often be found pounding the pavement in our brown and orange Sauconys, which make us the happiest when the laces are bright white.
If you’ve got a Saucony obsession of your own, pencil in a visit to Shoe Biz, where Saucony Originals are 20 percent off through Oct. 25.
More deals and promos….
In our ongoing quest for apparel and accessories from independent San Francisco designers, we’ve found that footwear is among the more challenging categories to hunt down within Bay Area bounds. But that doesn’t mean local footwear companies don’t exist. Here are five local footwear lines well-worth stepping out in:
Martha Davis: Designed by Davis in Hayes Valley, this luxe local line launcher earlier this year features boots, wedges, booties and heels that mix sleek silhouettes with sculptural details and the occasional raw edge. Made in the same Italian factory that produces footwear for Chanel and Chloe, the shoes ($270-$750) in this line don’t come cheap, but thankfully boast super-soft leather construction and heel heights made for pounding the pavement on city streets.
Glory Chen: The rounded toes and curvaceous silhouettes of this local footwear company’s shoes never fail to grab our attention when we stroll past the Maiden Lane storefront. We like to think of the pumps, heels and flats as classics with a mod-inspired twist.
Chrome: Here’s one for the fellas. The newly-launched (as in last week) line of men’s shoes from this longtime local maker of bike-friendly bags and accessories is a tough as they come and well-priced ($70-$90) to boot. We eagerly await the arrival of the company’s apparel for women, which we hear is set to debut in the coming weeks.
Anyi Lu: Best known for their foot-conforming fit and flexible styling, offerings from the current collection of this Marin-based designer range from professionally-polished silhouettes to weekend-friendly flats.
Form and Fauna: Using organic and earth-conscious materials whenever possible, this Marin-based footwear line is committed to sustainable production techniques and eco-friendly practices. These chic shoes are known for their comfy fit and wearability. Heels of reclaimed wood, biodegradable synthetic uppers and organic cotton details are a welcome bonus.
Starting out on the wrong foot isn’t always a bad thing.
Take San Francisco artist and jewelry designer Taryn McCabe. Her time studying footwear at the London College of Fashion led not to career creating stylish shoes, as she’d planned, but to a jewelry business instead.
“I went…and fell in love with leather. I worked for a few shoe companies, but realized that it was much more fun to outfit peoples ears (and necks) rather than comfortably fit their feet,” says McCabe, a multimedia artist currently pursuing an MFA from San Francisco State University.
Working with leather in bold hues and metallics, McCabe hand cuts leaves, flowers and geometric shapes to fashion earrings and, most recently, necklaces into her collection’s ultra light-weight adornments.
Over three inches long, earrings such as the Turquoise and Platinum (top left) and Metallic Tri Leather (below) feature multiple layers cut with intricate patterns that balance McCabe’s respect for arts-and-crafts with an edginess we applaud. Another standout? The Leather Garland Necklace (bottom), whose mix of rich red paired with black and metallic leather delivers a slightly subdued twist on rocker chic that’s still plenty of fun.
For more on McCabe, visit her web site and check out her etsy shop. Find her work in person at Rabat on Chestnut or, starting Aug. 4, at Secession Art + Design.
We are seriously dy-y-y-ing over the shoe styling pieces from San Francisco-based label Dekkori, whose first shipment to retailers such as Intermix and Revolve Clothing is due out in a week or two.
To read more about the line, check out Lorraine’s post on the 7×7.com Glamwatch blog today.
Happy Socks, the Swedish purveyor of exuberantly upbeat knitwear for your feet, kicks off its San Francisco invasion with a Saturday afternoon shindig at Hayes Valley boutique Azalea.
Looking for more Bay Area fashion events? Visit the SF Indie Fashion Calendar….
