DO you know the brand of shoes that “Bella” of the famous Twilight Saga uses in real life and during the duration of the movie?
Actress Kristen Stewart, who plays Bella in the movie, uses Simple Shoes brand that is eco pure and with a pallet mixture made from millions of tiny microbes that are added to the plastic, ethylene venyl acetate (EVA) and rubber mixtures while still in liquid form.
Ms. Stewart’s choice of shoes greatly shows her being an advocate of the environment.
Eco pure is an additive that is used in EVA and rubber of all bio-D collection midsoles and outsoles and in all plastic shoe hangers and shoe bags.
Adding Eco pure shortens the lifespan of the materials to 20 years in aerobic (compost) or anaerobic (landfill) conditions.
Cherica Caiña, a local distributor of Simple Shoes, said having this kind of shoes helps save Mother Earth as well as minimizes climate change.
Caiña said Simple Shoes has been awarded the first ever Footwear Plus Green Award in 2007 and 2008.
“Simple Shoes have five organic compounds such as recycled plastic, eco-certified leather and suede, recycled car tires, certified organic cotton and hemp fibers to make up with such extraordinary shoes out from the recycled materials that will not stick around in our landfills for as long as one thousand years,” she said.
Caiña started introducing these brands through close friends who love sneakers and are nature lovers, too.
Her shoes became an instant hit since the brand can only be bought through the Internet and at the Trinoma Square and Rustan’s Mall in Manila.
“Simple Shoes have a catchy material that really attracts nature lovers, which is the hemp or Cannabis Sativa,” Caiña said.
A hemp is a plant that grows like a weed in many different climates. It is one of the strongest, most durable and breathable fibers available.
“This is also the kind of hemp our famous national hero Dr. Jose Rizal used to complement his barong apparel during the olden days,” Caiña said.
In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food, fuel and medical purposes.
“This is not the hemp that the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency goes after,” Caiña emphasized.
What inspired her to sell Simple Shoes is the fact that she does not only earn money but can also promote her advocacy on climate change.
“This is one way of minimizing the continuous distraction of our Mother Nature,” she says.
Though Simple Shoes sell from P3,000 to P4,000 each, which is quite heavy on the pocket, Caiña said “it is worth wearing as it is like saving Mother Earth in your own little way.”
Caiña’s collection of Simple Shoes is being displayed at her residence at the corner of Capistrano-Echem Sts., this city. She accepts orders through 0929-8308836.