It certainly is no newsflash for any vegan-fashionistas out there that Natalie Portman recently launched a collection of luxury vegan shoes. Te Casan started featuring her designs on January 15, 2008 and the media party seems to have gained momentum ever since. Criticized by some as a collection that is under designed and somewhat overpriced (even though the designer/actress contributes a portion of sales to charities), we wanted to take another look at Portman’s sleek alternative to high end Jimmy Choo, Christian Louboutin, and Manolo Blahnik stilettos. Walking the red carpet is tricky business these days and green style is surely an attention grabber. Natalie Portman’s new collection is backed by her lifestyle as a vegan and animal friendly, eco-conscious starlet, though, not by PR spin doctors or a need to find a cause as the curtain goes up.
Natalie Portman PETRA platinum faux calf metallic wide-band 3 1/4″ sandal, $265 and PIPPA faux-patent 3 1/4″ Mary Jane in grey, $265
The Harvard educated actress has definitely put her heart and soul (not to mention her very sexy brains) into her latest collection for Te Casan, and you have to give her credit for highlighting the fact that there was a real dearth of shoe styles for women who wanted ‘un-crunchy’ options for black tie affairs, humanitarian fundraisers, or hot nights out on the town with bare legs and bamboo jersey minis. Portman’s shoes maintain high quality standards and combine faux leather and suede with rhinestone embellishments, super-skinny straps, and flirty pom-poms even (yowza) for an retro-eighties/nighties take on pumped up prom fashion for green girls gone wild(er).
Our favorites are the metallic (pewter and platinum) faux-calf 3 inch PETRA heels and the faux-patent 3 inch PIPPA Mary Janes. Given that gladiator sandals are all the rage for Spring 08, it is super groovy to have a sustainable style alternative with Portman’s high-lacing PAINE faux-suede thong sandals in ‘purple’ or ‘mushroom’. It’s really just the beginning for style tastes that will grow as eco-fashion makes strides in providing options for all women out there, in heels or not.
+ Te Casan
Natalie Portman PIPPA faux-patent 3 1/4″ Mary Jane in red, $265 and PETRA platinum faux calf metallic wide-band 3 1/4″ sandal, $265
Natalie Portman PAINE faux-suede, thong sandal, laces up leg (pictured here in ‘purple’ and ‘mushroom’), $255
the idea is old out dated and will not last , i have experience in the retail and fashion industry. theb stitching on the sloe is shoddy and would be uncomfortable to wear. no offence to the vegans but it wont do.
Dear C. J.:
We have heard really positive feedback re: this collection, and women I know (who also know shoes) seem pretty excited by the quality, construction, and overall comfort. It is rare to find a pair of heels that actually feel stable and easy to wear. Let’s hope that this line does well – for vegans and non-vegans to enjoy!
Thanks for writing,
Abigail @ Inhabitat
There are, ahem, several pair of these in my house right now (yes, I love shoes) and I can’t rave enough about the quality, fit, and style. Truly, they compare favorably with the Manolos of my pre-vegan days. They are well-made and she somehow got the center of balance right (i.e. you’re not teetering and you can walk as well as in any high heels.) “Vegan fashionista” is a pretty narrow market– the shoes have to be trendy-cute, but timeless enough so as not to be a wasteful purchase. (BTW, I’m sure most of us already know that the use of these synthetic materials isn’t necessarily any less eco-friendly the process animals go through to become “leather.”)
These shoes are a step in the right direction but why not make them affordable for the average consumer. Not everyone can spend $2-300 hundred on a pair of everyday sandels or shoes.
These shoes are step in a positive direction but why not make them affordable for the average consumer. Noat everyone has $200-300 hundred dollars to spend for an everyday pair of sandels or shoes.
I was so excited to buy some of these shoes when I heard about them, but it is absolutely ridiculous that those flat sandals be $255. They say they are trying to help the environment, but how is it helping if the average middle-class woman could never afford them.
I LOVE the idea of Vegan shoes as I have raised my children to be vegans as well as our entire family. I looked forward to these shoes but did not realize they would not be affordable to the average joe. Why are items that are friendly to animals or the enviroment so expensive? It seems like a contradiction of beliefs.
marybraun: i’d imagine the shoes are priced highly because of the high production costs that result from a product that isn’t produced in very large numbers. smaller product runs = higher manufacturing costs. although saying that, i have no idea how the shoes are produced and it could just be that pricing them highly creates a sense of exclusivity and desirability which helps to sell the shoes.
They aren’t that expensive! I bought 10cm stilettos for around that price..not like they are $1000 each!!