It’s always warm in deep south Texas, which explains why we are a flip-flop culture. All across the ‘Southern Coast’ casual flip-flops are our footwear of choice, especially in the summer when temperatures top 100 degrees. I can’t speak for everyone, but my clan likes them cute and cheap. If we can score a nifty pair for under $15, we’re as happy as clams. It also helps us justify having a closet FULL of them. I’m not joking when I confess that I usually have at least a dozen pair of flip-flops in various closets at any given time. I have them stacked in my bedroom closet. I keep them in the coat closet downstairs so I can throw them on for a trip to the grocery store. I stash a pair in the little niche in my kitchen so I can run out and grab the mail each afternoon. And it’s not just me. Most of my friends and family collect them the same way we collect nail polish, sunglasses and souvenir t-shirts.
Imagine my surprise when I received a pair of flip-flops from my dear friend Kirsten from Michigan. Her BFF Jennifer started a company making flip-flops from recycled blue jeans and she convinced her to send me a pair. How cool is that? As much as I love the shoes, I also love the story behind them. Jeans Gone Green creates unique flip-flops made from blue jeans that go unsold at thrift and resale shops. After the unwanted jeans are collected, they’re turned over to Grand Traverse Industries in Traverse City, Michigan, who in turn provides jobs for those with special needs or limited job opportunities. Their employees cut and prepare the denim for a team of artisans and seamstresses who design and create one-of-a-kind footwear. And we’re not talking about plain cheapo flip-flops, folks. We’re talking high-end footwear embellished with Swarovski crystals. No kidding. These are not my run-of-the-mill sporting goods store flip-flops. These are by far the swankiest flip-flops I’ve ever possessed.
Another nice touch is the packaging. No clunky cardboard shoe boxes here! Jeans Gone Green packages their footwear in handmade denim bags made from portions of the jeans not used in their shoes. The long, narrow shape makes the bags a perfect size for reusing as wine bottle totes, a e-reader bag, or a beach bag for a rolled towel, a tube of sunscreen and a bottle of water. When they say they recycle old denim, they really mean it. I just love that.
As a bonus, the owner (Jennifer) offered to set up a discount code for readers of this blog. If you’re in the mood to treat yourself, visit the Jeans Gone Green website and use the internet promo code NANABREAD to receive a discount. This offer is only good for purchases made on their website, not in stores. And speaking of stores, the company is rapidly expanding, including into stores across Texas. Don’t forget to look for them in a boutique near you. For your convenience, they have a “Where to Buy” link on their website, but if you can’t find them in your favorite shop, ask for them! They’re partnering with new shops all the time. Here’s the scoop on the company:
Jeans Gone Green
http://jeansgonegreen.com/
Traverse City, Michigan
“Good People – Good Things”
Special thanks to my friend Kirsten at Comfortably Domestic and Jennifer of Jeans Gone Green. What a wonderful surprise, ladies. Thanks so much!
Note: This post was written of my own volition. I was not in any way solicited, compensated, or reimbursed to promote Jeans Gone Green and/or their footwear. These were simply a gift from a friend. I am sharing them with you because I loved them and thought you might, too. Furthermore, I will in NO WAY be compensated or reimbursed for any purchases made using the NANABREAD discount code. That has been offered by the owner of the company as an unsolicited gift to readers of this blog. You are in no way obligated to make a purchase. If you do, it may help to note that mine ran a little small, so you may wish to order a size larger than you normally wear.
Inside NanaBread's Head 