When Ethical Shoes Make All The Difference

Wondering how to stretch your closet and make fewer pieces work harder? Meet cognac (or camel or caramel, whatever you want to call it) accessories. Over the last year or so, I’ve been on the hunt for cognac shoes, jackets and bags. With its versatility, cognac and its cousins are becoming my go-to color (or colors, I suppose).

It’s taken me a while to find the perfect pieces in these colors, which mix and match with nearly my entire wardrobe. But cognac is such a great neutral that matches just about anything and goes well with nearly every skin tone and hair color that’s it’s worth the treasure hunt. It’s a true style workhorse.

With a few well-made and comfortable neutral pairs of shoes in my closet that I love, like these caramel nuggets from Sseko Designs, my shoe collection has been shrinking significantly. Finally I have designated spots for every pair I own. Nothing has a “home” on the floor of my closet in front of my shoe cubbies. In fact, I have several empty shoes compartments that I don’t intent to ever refill.

I’ve been planning to share about these shoes with you for quite some time. If you’re in the market for a neutral, versatile shoe, that walks the walk, these Sseko Designs loafers should do the trick.

Sseko Designs is an ethical fashion brand that employs women in Uganda and helps them fund their college education. While acting with a socially conscious purpose, the company offers high quality products made by artisans earning respectable wages. This video shares more about the Sseko story and why the ethically-manufactured shoes you buy make all the difference.

Just last week, in a rare bout of warm, spring weather, I put these shoes to the test. I wore them all day at the office and during my three mile commute (entirely on foot). The verdict? … No blisters, no soreness, just soft goodness. They proved to fit well and wear well without even having to be broken in.

These particular shoes also have removable embellishments that allow for added versatility without significant additional investment. I most love the simple monochrome tassels, which I’m wearing in both outfits. But there are several other great alternatives that can be swapped for the tassels.

I’ve shared two separate outfits wearing these shoes. They pair perfectly well with a neutral and classic black combination (the outfit I wore last week) as well as a more colorful option (that I obviously wore a few weeks back when we still had snow on the ground). As I continue to pare down my wardrobe, these shoes firmly hold their own in the competition for longevity. For work, for weekend, for whatever ~ they’re style chameleons, so that’s a win.

Like what you see? If you’re new to Sseko Designs and are as much a fan of their collection as I am, you can get $15 off your first purchase over $50 with this referral link (though you can certainly opt not to use it if you’d prefer).

Sticking to a few neutral shoes that have a bit of unique character can create great remixability without being boring. We all know that shoes can make or break an outfit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have to have a million pairs of them overflowing from our closet. Finding the right shoes can make all the difference. Further, using our purchasing power to find the “right” shoes that serve a greater purpose makes all the difference for the artisans creating the shoes and earning a fair and respectable wage in the process.

Want to know just how much of a difference your choices can make? Here’s what happens when your dollars support productive and ethical production.

Think you can’t afford or don’t have enough time for more responsible style choices? Check this out. You might just reconsider.

Coat – Collection Fiftynine (via Goodwill) | Pink Cardigan – Banana Republic (via thredUP) | Black Tank – The Limited | Burgundy Pants – JCrew (via thredUP) | Scarf – gift | Shoes – Sseko Designs

Blazer – LOFT (via Salvation Army) | Blouse – LOFT | Pants – Theory | Shoes – Sseko Designs | Necklace – old (mine as a child)