The latest Jeffrey Campbell For Convert collection is going fast.
Hands up. Who has a closet full of eco-friendly-made shoes? I thought not. While the days of design-lacking green clothing are most definitely over, it remains hard to find stylish, sustainable shoes. “Shoes are the worst eco offenders; it’s the way they are made,” says Randy Brewer, owner of Berkeley’s Convert store. It’s no surprise that his first vegan- and earth-friendly collection with LA-based cult shoe designer, Jeffrey Campbell, a long-standing pal, proved such a hit this past spring.
“Out of all the lines I carry, these are the store’s best sellers,” he reports, “I’ve had calls from all over the world for them. Everyone is really looking for hot vegan and sustainable shoes right now.” Brewer is used to being at the forefront of a new trend. His innovative store dedicated to both style and sustainability on Berkeley’s Fourth Street was the first Bay area store to carry hard-to-find men’s apparel, plus a good mix of women’s sustainable and local labels. As the second collection of Jeffrey Campbell’s shoes begin to hit the store in time for fall, the charismatic Mr. Brewer is busy preparing for the rush.
The “Mention” slipper in Python, also available in quilted pewter.
Once again, the new collection is made leather-free using dead stock materials and non-animal based glues. Alongside the “runway” platforms and flatforms are options for those who are seeking an “eco” aesthetic in their everyday shoes. Mr. Brewer is a fan of the “Mention” slipper, “it’s timeless, it’s ageless really, “ he reports. “Anyone can wear this. It’s been a big hit with older and younger customers. The shoe comes in new color ways and fabrications. “The quilted is a little more traditional, the python is so right now, it looks good with black and a lot of our customers wear all black ensembles, we’ve noticed.”
Borrowed from the boys, the best selling “Prospect”brogue.
The two tone “Prospect,” an eye catching and seasonless borrowed-from-the-boys style (similar styles were seen on models at Balenciaga and Jil Sander’s spring runways), was re-issued for the latest collection, as it proved to be a big hit the first time around.
If you’re not yet scrolling through these photos deciding which style will be yours, here’s something else you should know about the new line, “They’re comfortable too,” shares Brewer, echoing a well-known secret among Jeffrey Campbell shoe lovers. “They took out the leather interiors and replaced it with canvas,” says Brewer, improving both its green credentials and its summer comfort, “It’s not so sweaty.”
Platform Power, the “99 Tie” in sustainable raffia.
The Jeffrey Campbell for Convert collection retails from $104-$159 and is only available at Convert in Berkeley.