…not because it is a beautiful country, but because it is a country that makes beautiful shoes. Spain is home to the quirky Camper line (from which I have yet to adopt “twins” ::snicker::) and also the high quality craftsmanship that is El Naturalista.
My obsession with El Naturalista began about a year ago when I was flickring through the albums of other shoe nuts, and I saw them: they were green (my fav color!), they had a handstitched spiral on the side, they were mary janes, and they were called “Iggdrasil” which (for those of you not familiar with Norse mythology….I love it… really…hell, I named my dog Sigurd and have an ink drawing of Odin hanging in my living room) is the “Tree of Life,” and if you wanted to delve into interpretations, it’s like the Norse version of the Cross. The only problem with these shoes was that they were $160 and I had no idea what size to order.
Is this not the most gorgeous, organic shoe ever?
So for the following year, I searched for this shoe and felt sorry for myself. I’ve never paid full price for Keens, so this would have gone way against my principles. I came to love it in Tibet red and now they make it in purple! What is a girl to do? The wonderful shoes.com just so happened to carry this style in green AND it was on sale (still is, actually) for $119.00. So, thrifty ol’ me when looking for a coupon code and I got another $15 off with free shipping both ways, so I held my breath and clicked “submit order”. They came in record time, packaged very well, and filled my house with a crisp, cedar aroma (unlike the awful PVC smell my asian brocade flats gave off). In the photo above, you can see the little pillows that rest under your arch, the ball of your foot and there’s one for under your toes, too. The cork insole is light and breathable, (so no stinky sweaty feet, but a little talcum powder is still a nice gesture). The thick sole is constructed of natural and recycled rubber and is shock-absorbent. It’s a shoe I could walk across campus in without fear of my plantar fasciitis acting up.
If you’re familiar with European sizing, I’d suggest going with your gut feeling. I am a 39 (a true 8.5 US size) in Dansko and every other European shoe I’ve bought, and the 39 fit me perfectly–like a glove you could say. Enough wiggle room and after only two all-day wearings, they’ve molded to my feet. They are quite comfy enough to wear sans socks (a big plus for me) despite the high back, which looks like it may cause a monster blister, but has yet to do so. The arch support is quite good–which could mean excellent to the rest of the world cause my arches are really high–and I would say they can accomodate a slightly wider foot (trust me, they will stretch) with their roomy toe box, but are not as wide as, say the Keen Calistoga, which after wearing for a year, can fit 1 1/2 feet in each shoe.
The green color is very true to the company’s official photo, so it’s a safe bet the other colors are just as vivid (all shoes get their colors from natural vegetable dyes).
This is definitely an all around five-star shoe, in terms of comfort, quality, and cuteness. Is it hot-spot free? For me, yes. Could one take the dog for a walk in these? Without a doubt. Have a gander at what they look like on real feet (mine) below, and then go get yourself a pair!
true to color--please excuse flourescent white skin
I’m sure this won’t be my last pair from this super awesome company. I’m a little in love with the Tibet Organico mary jane–and I would LURVE to road test it and give it a thorough review…..(wishing and hoping….size 39….)
Keep the feet happy!
Chez Shoes said,
September 24, 2008 @ 10:29 pm
Great review – sounds like we have similar feet
Care to share with me where you found them on sale? Thanks in advance!
Stephanie said,
October 1, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
I have these shoes in the same color, but they’re the “clog” version without the back. I have the opposite problem of you — flat feet — and these are a dream to wear.
Barking Dog Shoes » Blog Archive » El Naturalista Iggdrasil on Meg’s Feet said,
October 3, 2008 @ 4:19 am
[...] eco-friendly footwear that will support her high arches and help to relieve chronic back pain. Read Meg’s review of the El Naturalista Iggdrasil on her thoughtful blog about green living, [...]
El Naturalista Iggdrasil - the High Desert Review « Chez Shoes said,
October 14, 2008 @ 2:02 am
[...] of a little store in Sonora, California, and have wanted to get my hands on a pair ever since. Then Meg’s review over at Go Naturale made me certain I had to have some. Then, through a series of minor miracles, [...]
Nancy said,
January 1, 2009 @ 4:20 pm
I saw some reviews for these shoes and having trouble finding comfortable shoes, decided to give these a try. Alas, they just won’t be wide enough to fit my bunion. I did find them at a great price and am sorry to let them go! I have a pair of Keen Calistogas – what other shoes out there have that same width? I used to think I’d be wearing Birkenstocks the rest of my life, but now don’t find them comfortable any more. My big toe bends in too much and rides on the ridge of the sole. I’d appreciate any suggestions! Thanks.
megcowen said,
January 1, 2009 @ 6:35 pm
Hi Nancy,
The sizing and width of EN shoes is very inconsistent–the Iggdrasils are the only pair that worked for me because they’re fairly narrow and have a high arch.
I love the Keen Calistoga even though I can fit 1.5 feet in each shoe. I recently bought a second pair in Orion blue and ordered my usual size rather than size up and they fit perfectly. I’d say sticking with Keen is always a good idea for people with bunions. The Sienna mary jane is also very stretchy and comfortable. I have yet to try the Wear Around MJ, but it looks comfortable. Merrell and Teva make sporty mary janes, too, and I’ve found them to have a lot of room in the toe box.
If you live in a colder climate, I can also recommend EMU Australia boots (if you’re not dead set against the “Ugg” look). I have yet to compare them to other brands, but they are super comfortable, very roomy and soft, and I haven’t taken them off my feet since I opened them Christmas morning. They actually have arch support, too, and I’ve been able to stand all day on my feet at work and come home with no foot pain. I didn’t want to look trendy, so I hesitated for 2 years before buying them, but I highly recommend them.
Sorry the Iggdrasils didn’t work out. Keen never seems to disappoint. Hope this helped a little.
Nancy said,
January 1, 2009 @ 7:40 pm
Thanks a lot. I’ll look into the Emu boots. I think my daughter is interested in those too. I have some Aravons that are ok, but the ones I have aren’t too stylish. I buy what I can find on sale since they are pricey too.