Cute Black Flats for 2017

If you're in search of a pair of cute black flats, Mala has you covered. Our Alex black leather flats are a great choice for work, weekend brunches and everywhere in between.

Wanting the perfect pair of cute black flats is actually what inspired me to start Mala. When I moved to Brooklyn, I couldn't find a pair of flats that were truly cute, comfortable and durable. As I started doing some research, I realized I wasn't the only one experiencing this problem. A Mala customer named Laura summed this up perfectly in her review:

Sounds simple enough, but finding comfortable black flats had proven impossible for me! These are perfect, I love them!!

Just As Comfortable As They Are Cute

While we all know what it's like to suffer through wearing an uncomfortable pair of heels because they're cute, I didn't want to make that sacrifice with flats. That's why our cute black flats are fully made from leather. By using leather for every element of the flats, they're able to adapt to the exact shape of your feet. We also offer our flats in full and half sizes, which makes it really easy to get a perfect fit.

Leather also provides a few other key advantages in terms of comfort. Those advantages include being very breathable. When you wear a pair of Mala's black leather flats, your feet will continue to feel fresh and great throughout the entire day. I've heard from multiple customers who normally struggle with sweaty feet but don't have this problem when they wear their Mala flats.

Cute Black Flats That Only Get Better with Time

It's always frustrating to find a pair of shoes that you like and then realize they look beat-up after only wearing them a few times. The good news is our quality black leather flats don't have this issue. Instead, they're like a great pair of jeans that get better with time. As the leather has a chance to fully break in, your flats will look just as good as they feel. And with just an occasional quick polish or a little leather conditioning cream, your cute black flats will continue to look like new.

Mala's Flats Are Great Shoes for Women with Bunions

If you have bunions, the bad news is there’s a fairly high chance you’ll pass this condition down to your children. On the other hand, the good news is because around thirty percent of women have bunions, there’s plenty of established information about this condition and how to best manage it.

Bunions 101

Bunions occur at the base of a big toe. This condition involves a bony prominence from realignment of the joint. If this same issue occurs outside of the foot at the base of the little toe, it’s known as a bunionette. Bunions are more likely to affect women than men. They also tend to be progressive. While not all bunions cause symptoms, many do.

As we’ll discuss below, many women are able to successfully manage their bunion symptoms. However, there are certain cases where a doctor may recommend bunion surgery. Common scenarios where this type of surgery may be proposed include chronic pain that limits daily activities, chronic inflammation, deformity of the toe and serious toe stiffness.

Photo Credit: Have Mercy

3 Tips for Living with Bunions

Based on our research and conversations, we’ve put together the top 3 tips for living with bunions. The first is to soak whenever your foot feels irritated or sore as a result of a bunion. Simply pour a few tablespoons of Epsom or bath salt into your tub/bowl. Fill it up to ankle height with cool or lukewarm water, then let your feet soak for five to fifteen minutes.

The second tip is to stretch your toe. You’ll want to sit down, then use your hands or a strap to take hold of your toe. You can do a few 30-second cycles of pulling your toe through a comfortable range of motion. Consult with your doctor if this type of stretching causes your pain to worsen.

One of the most common myths about bunions is they’re caused by wearing the wrong shoes. Although that’s not true, shoes that don’t fit properly can cause a bunion to swell and hurt more. That’s why the third tip for living with bunions is to choose shoes that fit well.

Because Mala’s flats are completely constructed from leather, they will adjust to the exact shape of your feet and toes to provide maximum comfort. Here’s what our customer Marissa, who has bunions on both feet, had to say about our Alex flats:

“The quality is so impressive, just after one wear the soft leather curved to the shape of my foot, which is incredibly difficult for me because I have bunions on both feet that cause pain and cramping in most shoes I purchase. Not these!! I cannot wait to place my order for the Frances Red Flats. I will never stress about finding another pair of flats again...I've found them for life! Thank you, Mala Flats for making the perfect shoe!!! “

Soles4Souls - Fighting Poverty One Pair of Shoes At A Time

Soles4Souls is a non-profit that was founded in 2006. The organization was created after Wayne Elsey, who was a successful shoe industry executive at the time, saw a picture of a single shoe wash ashore following the Indian Ocean tsunami.

Using his shoe industry and philanthropic connections, Elsey organized the donation of half a million pairs of shoes to those affected by the tsunami. He then lead the collection and donation of a million pairs of shoes to Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005.

After seeing the desperate ongoing need for quality footwear around the world, Elsey officially created Soles4Souls as a 501(c)(3) non-profit.

What Soles4Souls Has Accomplished Over the Last Decade

The vision for Soles4Souls is to eradicate extreme poverty by 2050. During its first decade in existence, the organization has distributed 26 million pairs of shoes in 127 countries. Soles4Souls has accomplished that incredible milestone through a combination of short-term relief in times of distress and long-term solutions like providing entrepreneurs in struggling countries with the ability to start small businesses by providing them with a steady supply of high-quality, low-cost product.

Soles4Souls has worked with partner organizations like Skechers, PUMA and Macy’s, along with celebrities including Justin Timberlake, Jessica Alba, John Krasinski and Sarah Jessica Parker. If you want to learn more about how you can help the organization by giving shoes, donating or through travel, be sure to check out their Get Involved page.

How Mala is Working with Soles4Souls

Mala’s newest style of flats is the Olivia, which is a beautiful red snakeskin print leather flat with a black leather toe. To celebrate the launch of this limited edition run of flats, we’re providing a pair of shoes to someone in need through Soles4Souls for every pair we sell.

Yosi Samra Review - Yosi Samra Flats vs. Mala

As the founder of a shoe company, I spend a lot of time talking to other women about their shoes. One question I like to ask during these conversations is what other brands someone has recently checked out or tried. Since the women I talk to are often shopping around for a pair of flats, Yosi Samra flats are a brand that regularly come up.

Based on my conversations and online research, I’ve put together a Yosi Samra review to help anyone in the process of finding their next pair of flats. When comparing Yosi Samra and Mala flats, there are 3 key differences to keep in mind:

1. Durability

Between my conversations and reading reviews that women have left online, the most common complaint that comes up about Yosi Samra flats is they’re not made to last. Here are a few excerpts from several Yosi Samra Amazon reviews:

“these are not shoes to wear everyday for months”

“these flats are not durable enough to use as everyday use”

“they fell apart... after only 3 months of having them”

If your top priority is getting a pair of flats that you can fold and keep in your bag for occasional foot emergencies after a night of wearing heels, the Yosi Samra flats can fill that role. But if you’re looking for a pair of flats that you can wear all the time, Mala’s flats are a better option since solving that problem is exactly why I started the company.

2. Support

The other issue that I’ve heard and read about quite a bit is Yosi Samra shoes don’t offer much support for a full day of walking. As one reviewer explained, “if you are looking for a shoe with a lot of support, this is not the style for you.” With Mala’s flats, one of my top goals for the design was creating a pair of flats comfortable to wear throughout a full day of walking and working in New York. A big part of Mala’s comfort comes from the premium leather sole.

3. Style

Because Yosi Samra flats are foldable, they have a less structured design and include a tab to help with slipping them on. That style works perfectly well in casual settings. However, many women want a more refined look that they can feel confident wearing to work. Not only do Mala’s flats provide the durability and comfort you want from a pair of shoes you’re going to wear 8+ hours a day, but the timeless style of all of our flats means they’ll look really great with any outfit you want to wear to work.

Yosi Samra Review vs. Mala - The Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a quality pair of flats that are made to last, will keep your feet comfortable and look great in many different settings, I guarantee you’ll be VERY happy if you decide to go with a pair of Mala’s wonderful leather flats! You can actually save $10 on your first pair by entering your email:

Ladies - Here’s How to Stretch Leather Shoes

With leather shoes like Mala’s flats, it’s normal for them to be just a little snug when you slip them on for the first time. If your new leather shoes feel good but don’t feel broken in yet, chances are you just need to stretch them. Here are the three most common ways to stretch leather shoes for women:

1. Wear a Thick Pair of Socks

This is my preferred method of stretching Mala’s leather flats. All you need to do is put on a thick pair of socks and then wear your leather shoes around the house. This will gently stretch your shoes out without putting too much strain on them. After doing that for a bit, they should feel really good when you go sock-less and start wearing them outside. We’ve even had a customer wear her flats with a pair of socks while sleeping because they were already so comfortable!

2. Use a Shoe Stretcher

Although this isn’t a method I personally use, multiple customers have told me they’ve done it and gotten the exact results they wanted. You can find a shoe stretcher on Amazon for $20-$30. Just be sure to read and compare to find the right size for your specific shoes. Using a shoe stretcher can also be a good option if your leather shoes is something like oxfords that are unlikely to stretch with just a pair of socks.

3. Stretch Leather Shoes While You’re Out and About

With leather shoes like Mala’s flats, they’re already going to feel pretty darn good even prior to being stretched. So if you’re excited to wear your leather shoes out, there’s nothing wrong with letting them stretch and adjust to your feet by wearing them out in the world. The only time to avoid this approach is if you’re going to be walking way more than normal since doing that with a brand new pair of shoes is likely to lead to very tired feet.

If you have any other questions about stretching or which size of our leather flats will fit you best, just email me and I’ll be happy to help!