Native

What defines the perfect pair of shoes? Vancouver designers Damian Van Zyll De Jong and Matthew Penner think they should be unique, comfortable, lightweight, washable and capable of nixing odour-causing germs. Since launching in 2009, their Native shoes label has been selling unique sneakers all over the world. The affordable line features comfortable slip-ons in a variety of bright colours with no need for laces; the shoes are designed to naturally hug the shape of your foot.

Not just content with unique designs, Damian and Matthew want Native to be different on all fronts. They achieve this through the materials and processes used to construct each of their shoes. Adamant about creating a product that is easy on the environment, the duo decided the best way to make light and airy shoes would be to experiment with a foam-injection mold of Ethylene-vinyl Acetate, or EVA – a cross somewhere between rubber and vinyl. The shoes are made from animal-free by-products and create zero waste and next-to-nothing energy emissions in the manufacturing process.

Native’s designs are variations on their three classic models: the Miller, the Jefferson and the Corrado. Skateboarder Chris Miller inspired the Miller sneaker, while the Jefferson was named after a street in Brooklyn a partner currently lives on. The Corrado earned its title after an incident at an important trade show in Las Vegas years back, when a Mr. Corrado gave Native an extremely hard time before allowing the shoe line access into the show. That show helped give their sample line a solid footing in the fashion world and contributed to rave reviews in the US tradeshow market that year.

While Damian and Matthew continue to learn and grow with each day and trade show that passes, a veteran line of casual, comfy sneakers is giving its previous run of adoration and demand a second go this spring.

[www.nativeshoes.com]

Words: Alana Turner
Photography: Geoffrey Knot
Styling: Nadia Pizzimenti, judyinc.com
Model: Seamus at Elmer Olsen
Hair and Makeup: Adele DeVuyst
Clothing: Tee- Model’s Own, Shirt- H&M, Shorts- H&M