Expect compliments. Lots and lots of compliments.. everywhere we go we are inundated with “Where did you get those?!” when we wear this simply lovely new line of footwear.
Classic and chic, BHAVA is a new vegan shoe line that is a happy edition to our gams reptoire. Think reclaimed wood heels and organic cotton hand woven fabrics.
For BHAVA shoes, being ethical starts with the designers materials, sourcing from suppliers they know and trust, who also share a commitment to sustainable manufacturing. This means supporting organic farmers, natural dyes based from Ayurvedic principles, traditional arts like hand weaving, and recycled and reclaimed components. In fashion, if you’re not part of the solution, chances are you’re contributing to the problem. Seeing the devastating effects of this industry can be quite motivating as far as the energy and resources it takes to search for alternatives to the “conventional” sourcing and manufacturing of materials.
This shoe brand birthed when designers Francisca Pineda and Rushali A. Sanghani met in 2006 while collaborating on runway accessories for Cynthia Rowley in Hong Kong. Bhava is named after the designers’ shared devotion to purity and consideration for others, the highest form of Bhava. This collection sets a new standard in footwear design by sourcing the highest quality hand-woven, organic, recycled and cruelty free components. The Bhava aesthetic represents timeless elegance with a dose of ingénue charm. Their mission is to create a harmonious footwear experience, as in tune with our environment as our spirit.
Working from the atelier in Mumbai, Rushali ensures that each Bhava piece is exquisitely hand-crafted utilizing the best of both traditional and modern techniques. With over a decade of experience fully immersed in shoe design and production Rushali’s experience in footwear is unrivaled. Rushali is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology and Francisca is a graduate of Parsons School of Design. Francisca is based in New York and also has over a decade of experience working as an accessory designer. In 2012 Francisca won Ecouterre’s IOWEYOU award for her design in IOU Project’s handwoven madras. Francisca is also the founder of the Ethical Fashion Academy which is commited to inspiring designers and consumers towards a conscious world through education.
Have we mentioned this line is entirely vegan and cruelty-free? But these aren’t plastic fabrics made in China. This is real deal sustainability. Even down to the packaging – the shoes come in beautiful reusable hemp-lookin’ shoebags. And the prices? Ethical for the wallet as well – between $100-155.
Time to shop.
It’s such a new line that their online e-shop has yet to open, but you can e-mail [email protected] to order, and they can ship anywhere.
Free shipping when you mention GIRLIEGIRLARMY! Score.
A few stockists (like our beloved Kaight) do carry the line, see the full list here.