Melissa Desire + Triton Red Hot Heels, $58 at Kaight NYC
We generally associate plastic shoes with blister-generating sandals or galoshes that take eons to decompose in landfill, but when it comes to (recycled) plastic shoes of the sustainable ilk, Melissa Shoes takes a quantum leap forward in eco-fashion footwear. Our good friends at Kaight NYC turned us on to these babies, and we wanted to share this green style tip with you ASAP so that you can scoop up a pair of these very sexy sustainable vegan shoes, and join the Brazilian-design trend. Brazilian shoemaker Melissa has just put out these super sexy recycled-plastic kitten heels for spring, and we can’t wait to get our hands on a pair of them!
Melissa Shoes are made from MELFLEX plastic, a patented, hypo-allergenic, recyclable, and extremely flexible PVC. The shoes are totally cruelty free and devoid of animal products. The Brazilian-based company is totally rad in its recycling of 99.9% of factory water and waste, and they also go the distance by recycling overstock styles into next season’s collection. Even better? Melissa Shoes employees are paid above average wages and benefits. What’s not to like in these plastic fantastic accessories? What a fabulous way to traipse and tromp through spring rain puddles, or consider wearing Melissa Shoes on your next urban eco-adventure and watch heads turn with total green envy!
Melissa Desire + Triton Red Hot Heels – $58 from Kaight
+ Melissa Shoes + Kaight NYC + Vivienne Westwood does Melissa Shoes on StyleFrizz
16 Responses to “SUSTAINABLE STYLE: Plastic Fantastic ‘Melissa Shoes’”
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I reckon they work wonders on sunny beaches. And that over at Melissa they treat nature with respect as well as their own employees. However, plastic shoes (especially the “closed” ones) are not long-term feet-friends.
Thank you for linking my article.
So wait – these plastic shoes don’t chafe?
That’s why Melissa sandals are open and the ones that are “closed” have holes specially designed. I have many melissa shoes/sandals and NEVER had the smell problem. Oh and there’s also the special scent that every one of them has!!!
Dear Readers:
As per the Melissa website, MEFLEX has quite a bit of elasticity (molding-to-the-foot capacity) as well as being hypoallergenic. The usual issue with wearing unforgiving plastic shoes really does not apply.
>What is MELFLEXTM?
For years now, the biggest challenge has been to develop a material which could be easily molded to the foot, providing superior comfort in relation to other products currently on the market. This formula was developed in MELISSA’s laboratories.
The result is a composition called MELFLEXTM. This material has characteristics which provide improved elasticity, impermeability and resistance. Its formula contains products which are hypoallergenic and 100% safe to your health. It is odorless, neutral and natural.
MELFLEXTM maintains its special properties even after being recycled. MELISSA searches for innovation in a variety of fields, including those which are not related to footwear production, in order to boost the performance of MELFLEXTM.
Thanks for reading!
Abigail @ Inhabitat
GREEN DESIGN IS GOOD DESIGN
GOOD DESIGN IS GREEN DESIGN
GREEN DESIGN IS SIMPLE
I am opening a recycled women’s apparel store and am wanting to sell Melissa shoes but cannot find a wholesale connection ANYWHERE. Do you have any idea how I can contact someone?
Thanks!
I bought a pair and absolutely ADORE them. They’re fabulous.
I would love to contact the makers or distributors of Melissa sandals. I bought a pair of their sandals 3 or 4 years ago at a store in Santa Monica California named Barry Lee. they look like a simple flip flop with strap that goes between the big toe and next top, just like regular flip flops. But they also have a strap that velcrows across the ankle and secures the “flip flop” to your foot so you can run around in them like tennis shoes. I immediately went back to the store and bought out all the size sevens available, as the store owner said that they were discontiinuing them. …..My point, I must tell twenty or thirty people a month where I bought them because they love them and want to get a pair. I am not exaggerating!!! Most of the people want to buy them just off their looks. But once I tell them they are like walking with nothing on, and that you can run up and down stairs with them as if you were weqring a tennis shoe. they immediately ask where to get them. I’m talking people on the street, nurses in doctor offices, actresses on location,…everyone. Do you still make them? Can you start making them again? Please let me know, people are constantly asking me where to get them. I thought you should know because it seems like some big revenue could be made if you brought them back.
I would love to hear from you about this. I believe you have my e-mail attached to this message? I hope so. Sincerely, Debra
Debra – the company’s English-language website is at http://www.melissaplasticdreams.com – they list contact info for a rep in NYC.
The best place to get melissa shoes is at Regeneration in Los Angeles. they have a pretty big selection, and the prices are the lowest you’ll find anywhere – even ebay. They also sell some on their online shop: http://www.shopregeneration.com . I saw some cool green sandals with an ankle strap there.
Good luck contacting the company – they won’t answer you!!
Are you people insane! Just because these shoes claim to be eco, vegan and recycled doesn\’t mean a damn thing. Read between the lines. PVC is not a just substitute for leather, in many cases it is worse. PVC is a very toxic substance full of phthalates and other very harmful chemical compounds. When heated or burned it off gasses sending these chemicals into the pores of your feet. What about production of these shoes? They have to be heated into molds, exposing workers to harmful substances. Think twice, PVC is not something to brag about
I agree, amie.ie. As soon as I read PVC I became skeptical.
In addition… eeee, thems some ugly shoes. If I wanted fluorescent green plastic footwear, I’d at least get some with frog faces on them: http://www.amazon.com/Western-Chief-Toddler-Little-Frog/dp/B000E4AG4W
Are they comfy for walking? Cause I do like the color and the jelly shoes very much…..
Dear All, i have a very big problem with melissa shoes. i have bought one pair from new collection of Vivienne Westwood. And after 2nd time wearing it was broken (strap that fix step is broken). So what i need to do? Is it possible to fix it, and how to do it? or just take them to the garbage and forget??? Because one more problem is that i leaving in Russia and my shoes i was bought is Italy…. so i cant send them back.
Nobody from official site dont reply my mails.
Hello !
You said that those shoes are recyclable… So how are they collected to be recycled ? Do you have any info about that?
‘Cause if you (we) are just able to throw them in the “normal” garbage and if they are then burned … PVC is far from been green… and releases a lot of toxic substances (as dioxine…).
Melflex is a name Melissa has come up with so people dont associate PVC with their product. Any research will come up with info about the dangers of PVC both to the environment and human health. Its not know if Melflex would harm the wearer as they dont list its ingredients (I wonder why) but its made from Vinyl Chloride which is carcinogenic so its definitely causing harm to workers and the environment. I dont know any other recognized company selling eco-friendly PVC which tends to suggest there is a problem with what they are saying. Maybe Melissa has a magic laboratory!