kigo footwear Portable Eco Shoes
The kigo footwear Story
The kigo story begins in 2006, on a day when retired teacher Jan Kuramoto wanted to finish a day on the mountain with après ski. Having only her ski boots to wear on her tired feet, she decided to skip the fun with friends and head home. Alas, the idea for kigo was born.
Jan shared her idea with two friends. One, Kristin Parker, has spent years as a successful nonprofit fundraising exec. The other, her daughter-in-law Rachelle Kuramoto, cut her teeth in editorial for one of the global PR houses. The combined interests and experiences of these women have blended to develop a shoe company dedicated to offering a totally portable, stylish and eco-friendly footwear option.
kigo footwear doesn’t make just any shoe – they are very unique. The shoes come in two styles, a unisex slip on (kigo shel) and a Mary Jane (kigo star) for women, and both are made from a range of eco-friendly materials, including uppers made form recycled plastic jugs, recycled nylon lining, EVA insoles, water based adhesives and even an EPA approved water/stain resistance treatment. The materials make the shoes extremely lightweight (approximately .7lb per pair for a Women’s 7), and a patent-pending design that includes a flexible midsole and closure system helps the shoes to fold and hook closed for easy portability.
The box the shoes are packed in is slim, downsized and made of recycled corrugate printed with eco-friendly inks. It, as well as the small amount of tissue the shoes are packed with, can be recycled. Included with each pair of kigos is a storage bag that can be used when the shoes are dirty. This special bag is made not of plastic, but cornstarch, which allows the bag to biodegrade just like a vegetable.
So what’s this about portability? Well, the shoes fold in half and button, so you can pack them away easily. Great for stuffing in your gym bag, or you can walk to work in your kigos for comfort, leave your work shoes at work to change into when you get there, and stick your kigos in your desk drawer.
I was sent a pair of kigos to try out (thanks Rachelle!). When you first put them on, they’re a bit tight, but don’t worry – they will stretch. Wear them around the house a little while to break them in if you’re worried about it. I personally like the Mary Jane’s, which is the style I was sent (mine are gray with orange panel). kigos come in full sizes, so size up if you’re a half size.
The shoes are as cute in person as they look online, and quite comfortable for long term wear. I haven’t experienced wearing them in wet weather, but they are treated with an EPA approved stain/water resistance treatment called C6, and I’ve read testimonials touting their greatness for keeping feet dry when it’s wet out.
So if you’re looking for a cute, minimalistic, green shoe, I highly recommend checking out kigo footwear. There are only a few retail locations, but they can be ordered online through the website for $49.99 per pair.
