Melissa Barroca + Irmãos Campana Flats: The Ones You Always Want to Wear
I adore Melissas, the iconic Brazilian plastic footwear brand. Yes, I said plastic—but this is one of the (very few!) good kinds of plastic—the kind that is the opposite of disposable (I’ve had these Melissa + Vivienne Westwood t-strap heels for—check that post date!—7 years now. I literally wore them yesterday!). Not only do they last and last and last, but they are made in a closed-loop factory, which means their shoes aren’t contributing to any water—or other kind—of pollution as they are made.
They are also, VERY fab. I recently got to try out the new Melissa Barroca + Irmãos Campana flats in gold (they come in 5 other colors, including silver and black) and they are, as you can see from the detail shot above, not identical shoes. That’s right, the left and right shoe for this collection is different! I LOVE that. And I can’t stop wearing them—they seem to work with everything I own, from shorts and skirts to bikinis and dresses.
They were perfect for walking from the beach to dinner at the Nisbet Plantation Beach Club on Nevis during a recent visit (above!), and equally perfect for running around San Francisco on a busy day upon my return. I have already walked miles in these sweet flats—and the unique decorative elements on each, from cupids and a hobby horse, beetles, roses, lizards, swans, a cricket and angel wings, to a lock (on the left toe) and key (on the right toe), make them feel extra-special to me.
The designs are inspired by, “elements that associated with iron and bronze Italian works and animals that make reference to the Brazilian fauna, create an organic language among the tradition of a culture and the perspective of a new country through the fusion of ornaments from the past with contemporary elements.” The company even did an installation called “Barroca: The Harmony of Imperfection” (above) at Galleria Melissa in London (I am totally lusting after that hat-stand in front there with all the lizards climbing it!!!).
More into minimalism? Check out the Melissa + Jason Wu collection or Melissa + Jeremy Scott (below), which had included flats and ankle boots and has now added a vibrant sandal, the Melissa Tube Sandal.
Starre Vartan
Starre Vartan is founder and editor-in-chief of Eco-Chick.com and the author of the Eco-Chick Guide to Life. She's also a freelance science and environment writer who has published in National Geographic, CNN, Scientific American, Mental Floss, Pacific Standard, the NRDC, and many more. She lives on an island in Puget Sound with her partner and black cat. She was a geologist in her first career, and still picks up rocks wherever she goes.
