A (Vegan) Shoe In

Paris is known for many things--fashion, art, and food, for starters--but La Ville Lumiere is still establishing itself as a globally recognized vegan destination. That's changing every day, though, as new vegan restaurants open their doors (both My Kitch'n 2 and Brasserie Lola opened their doors this fall), and other business with ethical underpinnings enter the scene. Vegissime is one of those on the vegan vanguard, bringing cruelty-free footwear to the French capital. Yay!

The online store was launched two years ago by Sophie Ledain, who hails from Orleans but who now calls Paris home. After encouragement from friends and clients to open a brick-and-mortar store, she began a search for the perfect spot, and finally found it on a quiet street in the picturesque Latin Quarter, surrounded by university campuses and student cafes.

Vegissime owner Sophie Ledain is on hand every day to answer all of your vegan shoes-and-accessories questions--in English, French, and Italian!

Sophie is extremely helpful and knowledgeable, and took time to answer all of my nosy questions about the brands she carries, what it's like to be a vegan business owner, and how she came to open her own boutique. She shared the good news that she will probably be carrying Good Guys shoes shortly, and I put in a request to carry Roni Kantor, a brand I discovered on a trip to Tel Aviv last year and fell in love with. I also told her about my friend Leila--a talented shoe designer behind the Krze Studio brand--who lives in italy and works with local craftspeople to make exceptional leather-free shoes. Clearly, my own vision for Vegissime is less "boutique" and more "shoe emporium." I hope I didn't overwhelm her with my enthusiasm!

Men will also find stylish kicks at Vegissime.

The window display at Vegissime gives passersby a taste of what's inside.

If you're in the market for a new pair of boots, some hip sneakers, or a sparkly pair of flats for traipsing the cobbled streets in comfort and style, Vegissime is a must-visit. They're open Tuesday through Saturday, and are just a stone's throw from Vegan Folie's, where a celebratory slice of cheesecake can be had after you finish shopping.

Vegissime
20 rue Laplace
5e
Metro: Maubert-Mutualite

I tried this boyish shoes on but couldn't escape the call of the petit talon! 

Shoe Lust

Leila Kerze and her friendly Italian cohort, Nico.

Shoes. I love them. 

At any given time, I'm about two pairs away from becoming The Crazy Shoe Lady. But I rationalize my habit by buying vintage, which usually rings up less spendy at the cash register than buying new (plus, it's in line with my reduce-reuse-recycle philosophy). Krze Studio's new line of shoes kind of ruined all that for me.

J'adore the tough-girl aesthetic of these boots.

Leila Kerze's shoes capture the essence of the  LA girl; glam, beachy,  and fashionably outdoorsy.

Sparkly Cinderella shoes for the conscious girly-girl.

A wedge with edge.

Leila and one of her studded bags, which retails for (gulp) around $700.

Leila Kerze is the woman behind this new, high-end vegan shoe line. Her background is in design (she's worked on footwear lines for BCBG Max Azria and  Donald J Pliner), and her passion is creating beautiful shoes (and gorgeous handbags) that borrow from the tradition of artisan shoe makers in Italy, but without resorting to using animals in their production.

Statement-making red shoes with shine.

This one's for the fellas.

I met Leila last week at Who's Next, the big retail fashion expo at the Paris Expo center, and got to fondle some of her wares with my own hands. The most intriguing thing about each pair are the tiny details; each buckle, stud, and zipper has been chosen for its function, style, and quality, too. Leila takes particular pride in her shoes' insoles, which were created with breathable, comfortable, synthetic materials that outperform their leather counterparts.

Hey! More shoes.

Side view of the fancy bag, which, like  Krze Studio shoes, sports high-quality details.

Flashy footwear for the confident man (and woman).

I just noticed it says "ware"--is it a typo? Not sure!

All this beauty and function doesn't come cheap; shoes, boots, and a gorgeous line of bags start in the hundreds-of-dollars range, but, then, she's out there competing with the luxury fashion-house brands whose prices are in that same range.

When I land my next big book deal, I'll be investing in a pair. Until then, I'll be over here, ogling from a safe distance.

Cold Feet

This was supposed to be an entry on getting cold feet about the France move, but I lost my enthusiasm in the middle of writing and decided to scratch it.