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Check Out Mala's New Leather Print Snakeskin Shoes

Available exclusively in Mala's online store

Video Transcript

Hi guys, it’s Silvia from Mala. Today I’m super excited to show you our newest pair of flats! When we started Mala last year, we wanted flats that were really comfortable to wear all day, made to last and looked great with any outfit. That’s why we started with black, red and nude.

With this next pair, we took those same ideas and added a fun twist. I got really inspired when I was looking at snakeskin print samples in the Garment District in Manhattan, so here they are.

The black and white pattern looks amazing with jeans, leggings and dresses. The leather has a clear coating to protect the flats. On the inside is a leather lining and insole that will keep your feet comfortable and fresh.

The bottom has a premium leather sole that’s durable and looks great. It has a small piece of rubber on the back for comfort and to prevent slips. And of course our cute logo in the middle!

Thanks for letting me share these with you and I’d love to hear what you think about them. My email is silvia@malaflats.com. Talk to you soon :)


Living with Different Size Feet

For as long as I can remember, my feet have always been different sizes. I always assumed this was a weird little trait that was pretty much unique to me. But when I decided to start Mala and began doing lots of research about shoes, I realized  I definitely wasn’t alone! 

Why Do So Many People Have Different Size Feet? 

Statistics show that about 80% of US men and women have different size feet. What I found really interesting is the left foot is almost always the larger of the two. And while some people have as much as a 3 inch difference between their feet, this difference is usually around 1/8 of an inch.

Once I found out that most people do have at least a slight difference between the size of their feet, my next question was why. It turns out it has to do with our hands. Most people are right-handed, which means the default way they maintain their balance is by using their left foot. Over time, this action is repeated enough to cause different size feet.

Different Size Feet Women

Photo Credit: Greg Pye

Regardless of which hand is dominant for someone, a size difference between feet can also be caused by being born that way, a childhood foot injury or surgery. Pregnancy can also cause feet to change size (and not always uniformly).

Buying Shoes for Different Size Feet

I’ve found that the best fit for different size feet depends on the specific type of shoes. With Mala’s flats, go with the size that best fits your smaller foot. This means the fit will initially be a little tight on your other foot. But because all of Mala's flats are made from 100% leather, it won’t take long for the flat on your larger foot to stretch to a perfect fit and feel super comfortable. 

If you have any questions about Mala’s sizing, email me and I’ll help you find the perfect fit for your feet!


Mala’s First Donation

I am so grateful and happy that things went so well with Mala’s first run of flats that we were able to start giving back. During the holidays, I went back home to El Paso, TX and used this opportunity to make Mala’s first donation.

I had heard great things about a children’s shelter named Protección Integral de Juárez , so I got in touch with the shelter’s representative and scheduled a visit. Gersan, who helps run the shelter, gave me a good idea of what we could contribute. He recommended we bring food, so I went to Central de Abastos in Juarez. This is a place where restaurateurs buy in bulk, which meant we were able to stock up on a ton of healthy food for the kids! It was really rewarding when we got to the shelter, opened up the trunk and Gersan said “All this, is for us?, Everything?”

The Shelter is Focused on Education

One of the things I loved about the shelter is they are very focused on education. They made it clear that their mission is not only to fulfill the children's basic needs, but also to provide them with musical and cultural knowledge. The children get started in music lessons as soon as they come in to the shelter.

Gersan has been able to get the children scholarships for orchestra lessons at the Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez. Aside from going to music lessons at the university, the kids have a comprehensive lesson plan at home. In addition to helping them get into college, the shelter’s focus on music is very therapeutic for the children.

Protección Integral de Juárez is Run By a Single Family

Another amazing thing about this shelter is it’s entirely run by a family. It was definitely a surprise to be able to learn more about how the shelter was started. The family actually calls it “an accident of fate.” Originally, the family was helping people in prisons by spending time visiting them, as well as bringing them food and hygiene products.

Everything changed when one of the inmates asked the family to care for her two children that were five and seven at the time. She was very worried that no one in her own family was willing to take care of her children. They took the children in and suddenly word spread. They eventually started getting requests from people wanting to have their kids cared for by them. Fast-forward twelve years, and they now have 23 children in their love-filled shelter.

I am really amazed at the efforts of this family to help these children that have had truly difficult times in their lives. As Gersan told me, “there are still many things to do and to do better, but for now we do the best we can.” They do have very limited resources and funds, so any bit of help is greatly appreciated. You can learn and see even more by visiting their Facebook page :)

Mala Makes Great Christmas Gifts for Her

The two-week countdown to Christmas has officially begun! I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve still got quite a few presents to buy. If you’re in the same position and one of the people you still need to buy for is your girlfriend or wife, you’re in luck. There's still time to order a pair of Mala’s beautiful flats!

So, what exactly makes our flats a great Christmas gift for her? While I could probably fill a whole book with reasons, here are the five that matter most:

1. Our Flats Look Great

No woman wants to walk out of her house in a pair of ugly shoes. With a pair of Mala’s black, red or nude flats, that’s not something she’ll ever have to worry about. Our pretty flats are designed to look just as good with a pair of jeans on the weekend as they do with a work outfit during the week.

2. They’re Super Comfortable

Mala’s flats are made from 100% leather, which means they’re super comfortable to wear. In fact, the leather actually adjusts to the precise shape of a foot, so the flats will just get better and better the more they’re worn.

3. We Do Free Shipping and Free Exchanges

We believe online shopping should be super easy, which is why we offer free shipping and exchanges on every single order.

4. Every Pair Comes in Pretty Packaging and Wrapped

You’ve probably already got enough wrapping to do, so it’s nice to know that we’ll take care of this one for you. In addition to our black box, gold tissue paper and gold ribbon, we’ll include a nice Christmas card inside the box.

5. Your Order Will Arrive Before Christmas

You definitely don’t want to order a gift that doesn’t show up by Christmas, which is why we ship all our orders via USPS Priority Mail.

If you have any questions about picking the right size for your lady, we’re here to help! You can email us or call us at 855-592-7292

Waterproofing Leather Shoes for Women - Is It Possible?

Because quality leather is such a durable material, it’s easy to clean leather shoes whenever they get dirty and keep them looking their best for a long time. High quality leather shoes are also quite resilient in regards to water. So if you’re wearing a pair of Mala flats and it starts raining, you can be confident that your shoes will be fine.

Mala’s Leather Flats are Pre-Treated to Resist Water

We put leather conditioning cream on every pair of flats that we send out to our awesome customers. Not only does this type of cream nourish leather so that it looks beautiful and rich, but it helps to protect the leather from the elements. That protection includes maximizing the leather’s water resistance.

The Right Way to Dry Leather Shoes

It’s worth noting that the conditioning cream we use doesn’t make leather 100% waterproof. If it starts raining when you have leather flats on, they will get wet. However, all you have to do is dry them correctly.

What you don’t want to do is try drying a pair of leather flats by putting them next to a heat source like a radiator or using a blow dryer. The reason you don’t want to use external heat like a radiator or blow dryer on wet flats is it can weaken the leather and cause it to crack.

Instead of using a heat source, simply put your leather flats in a spot where they can air dry for a full 24 hours. If you accidentally got them really soaked by stepping in a puddle, the air drying time should be extended to 48 hours. Once your flats have had time to fully dry, they’ll be all ready for you to wear again.