Why Mala Has the Best Flats for Walking

Mala was launched from our apartment in Brooklyn, New York. If you’ve ever visited New York City, you know how much people walk here. A big part of why we started Mala is we couldn’t find the right flats to wear around this wonderful city. Everything that was available either wasn’t comfortable enough all day, lacked the right style to wear at work or around the city, wasn’t made with quality materials or was way overpriced.

Since being able to handle the demands of a daily commute that involves lots of walking was a big driver of our research, design and testing process, we want to share the specific traits that make Mala’s shoes the best flats for walking:

Mala’s Flats Are Comfortable Enough to Wear All Day

Commuting and working 8+ hours a day is already hard enough. The last thing you want on top of everything you have to get done during the day is to feel pain in your feet because your shoes are squeezing, pinching or not supporting them. Avoiding those problems is why we make our flats from 100% leather.

Being fully handcrafted from leather allows our flats to adjust to the unique nuances of the shape of your feet. It also makes Mala’s flats very breathable. Instead of feeling sweaty inside of your shoes, your feet will stay dry and cool. Additionally, the leather soles on our flats provide great support and durability. The combination of all these elements is why our flats are incredibly comfortable to wear while walking anywhere (including trips and vacations).

You’ll Look Great Wherever You Go in a Pair of Mala Flats

Part of our decision to start Mala came from our refusal to compromise between cuteness and comfort. We wanted flats that looked just as good as they felt. By going with a full leather construction, we were able to accomplish that goal. Our classic style in black, red and nude is easy to dress up or down. And because it’s very easy to clean women’s leather shoes, your flats will continue to look amazing regardless of how much you walk in them.

The Best Flats for Walking Are Available at a Great Price

4 Reasons Cheap Leather Shoes Are Never Worth It

There’s an old quote that says you should “never skimp on the things in life that go in between you and the ground.” That quote refers to your mattress, car tires and shoes. We think this quote is spot on, and since shoes are our area of expertise, we want to cover the exact reasons why cheap leather shoes are never worth it:

1. Cheap Leather Shoes Aren’t Comfortable

One of the reasons quality leather shoes feel so good is they adapt to the exact shape of your feet. The porous nature of quality leather also makes it easy for your feet to breathe. The problem with cheap leather shoes is they’re usually made with low quality materials. Additionally, instead of being handcrafted, they’re mass produced by machines. This results in shoes that are going to squeeze your feet and make them sweat all day.

2. They Won’t Make Your Outfit Look Its Best

Low quality materials, shoddy manufacturing and a lack of attention to design details means cheap leather flats are far from being the cutest option that’s available. It never feels good to get dressed for work or going out in a really great outfit and then feel like your shoes ruin your look instead of perfectly pulling it together.

3. Cheap Leather Shoes Can Hurt Your Feet

Even though they’re definitely bad, being uncomfortable and causing your feet to sweat aren’t actually the worst traits of cheap leather shoes. These types of shoes generally lack a quality sole. As a result of not providing proper support, doing a lot of walking in cheap shoes can literally hurt your feet. If you want to avoid running the risk of experiencing chronic foot pain or even an injury, opting for higher quality shoes with a leather sole will provide your feet with the support they need.

4. They’ll Wear Out in No Time

The main appeal of cheap shoes is you don’t have to spend much to buy them. However, that doesn’t mean they’re actually a good deal. Instead of being something that you can enjoy wearing for a long time, cheap leather shoes will quickly start wearing out and falling apart. So even though you may save a little money upfront, it won’t be long until you’ll end up having to spend more to replace them.

Buying Quality Leather Flats at a Smart Price is the Way to Go

While cheap leather shoes aren’t worth buying, that doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot of money to get a quality pair of leather shoes. At Mala, we’re big believers in smart spending. That’s why we’ve built our business around offering the highest quality of 100% leather flats at a smart price.

When you buy a pair of Mala flats, you get beautiful leather shoes that are incredibly comfortable, look great, provide tons of support and are made by hand to last for under $100!

Tieks Review vs. Mala - Which Leather Flats Are Best for You?

A big part of why we’re so passionate about fashion and specifically shoes is they provide a way for everyone to express themselves. So when we talk to our customers, one of the topics we like to ask them about is other brands that they’ve looked at and/or bought.

In many of these conversations, Tieks is one of the brands our customers mention having looked at prior to buying from us. Since this is a topic that has come up repeatedly, we want to do a Tieks review and compare them to Mala’s flats. Based on the conversations we’ve had, here are the three most common reasons people choose Mala’s flats instead of Tieks:

1. Style

The reason we’re putting style at the top of our Tieks review vs. Mala comparison is it’s the factor that comes up the most often. Tieks are known for their cute and playful designs, which include bright blue soles and a bright blue tag on the back of every pair of flats. While this style can be fun to wear in casual settings, Tieks don’t have the more refined look that many women want when they’re in a professional environment.

All of Mala’s flats are designed around the idea of classic style. Our flats are made for professional women who want great shoes that are going to continue to look great. A key element of every pair of Mala flats is the 100% leather sole. This gives the flats a level of sophistication that makes them perfect for the office. Then at night or on the weekends, they can easily be dressed down with your favorite pair of jeans and a cute top.

2. Price

Every pair of both Tieks and Mala flats is made from very high quality leather. Tieks range in price from $175 to $295, while Mala’s flats are priced at $100. In fact, you can save $10 on your first pair of Mala flats by entering your email:

So, why the huge price difference between Tieks and Mala?

The simple answer is Tieks made the decision to position themselves as a designer brand and marked up the price of their shoes accordingly. At Mala, one of our founding principles is the belief that women don’t need to pay a small fortune to look amazing. That’s why we’ve optimized every aspect of our business to make it possible to sell our high quality flats at a smart price.

3. Comfort and Support

We’ve spoken to customers who have always liked the look of flats but have never been able to wear them for extended periods of time due to discomfort or lack of support. With both Tieks and Mala flats, having a full leather upper means that the shoes will adapt to the unique shape of a woman’s foot.

The big difference between the two is the support provided by the sole. Since the Tieks sole is split into two pieces of rubber, the most common concern we hear is that they won’t provide enough support for lots of walking or standing.

Mala’s flats solve that problem thanks to the full leather sole. Even for women who need more arch support than flats usually offer or have bunions on their feet, the comfort and support provided by our expertly handcrafted leather soles will keep your feet feeling great all day long.

Tieks Review vs. Mala - The Bottom Line

How to Clean Women’s Leather Shoes

Not only are women’s leather shoes extremely comfortable, very breathable and quite durable, but they’re also really easy to clean. All of Mala’s flats are made from 100% percent leather, which means you can clean and maintain them in just two simple steps:

The 3 Things You Need for Cleaning Women’s Leather Shoes

Whenever your leather flats get dirty from walking around outside, all you need to clean them is a cloth, baking soda and a small amount of water. Start by using the dry cloth to wipe off the flats. Next, put a small amount of water on the cloth.

Once the cloth is damp, wipe your flats again. Rinse the cloth with just a little water and then sprinkle baking soda on it. Use the damp cloth with baking soda on it to firmly wipe your flats.

Finish the cleaning process by lightly rinsing the cloth for a final time, then giving the flats one more quick wipe to remove any excess baking soda that’s left on them. Let your flats air dry for at least a few hours, and then they’ll look like new the next time you wear them!

One thing to keep in mind is even though you’re only using a damp cloth during this process and not a soaking wet cloth, it’s still normal for some spotting to appear when you wipe off your flats. Just know that any spotting will go away as soon as the flats have a chance to fully dry again.

A Simple Way to Keep Your Leather Shoes Looking Their Best

If you want to keep your flats looking their absolute best, you’ll be happy to know that the process is just as easy as cleaning your flats. All you need is a quality leather conditioner. The leather conditioner we recommend is Frye Weatherproof Dressing. You can order it online from Nordstrom for only $9 with free shipping.

In addition to this leather conditioning product nourishing the leather and helping to protect it from elements like rain, a single tin lasts forever. When your flats are completely dry and you’re ready to condition them, simply put a little bit of the conditioner on your finger and then gently rub it along all of the outside area of your flats.

If you accidentally use too much conditioner on any part of your flats, just wipe it off with a dry cloth. You can easily condition both of your flats in less than 10 minutes at night, and then they’ll look brand new when you put them on in the morning. In terms of how often to condition your flats, we recommend aiming for every 4 to 6 weeks. 

Every Woman Needs a Pair of Tan Flats

Like the perfect white tee and an elegant blazer, tan flats are something that every woman should have in her closet. Having a great pair of tan flats in your closet means you’ll never have to worry about picking out an outfit and then realizing that you don’t have any shoes to go with it.

If you’ve been thinking about buying a pair of flats in this color but are on the fence about how often you’ll wear them, here are four reasons why there’s a very good chance they’ll end up being your go-to shoes:

1. You Can Easily Dress Them Up or Down

Going for a casual chic look? Tan flats have you covered. Heading out for the night and want to avoid killing your feet? You’ll have no trouble pulling off subtle elegance with this style of shoes on your feet. A big part of why these flats are so great to have in your closet is they look truly great with almost all outfits.

2. Tan Flats Are Timeless

Some shoes only work during certain times of the year. Other shoes look great for a couple of seasons and then go out of style. With tan flats, you don’t have to worry about either of those issues. This style and color of shoes will gracefully transition through spring, summer, fall and even winter. And thanks to the timeless nature of this look, you’ll never have to worry about a pair of quality tan flats going out of style.

3. This Color Of Flats Looks Good with Any Skin Tone

We’ve all had the experience of seeing a pair of shoes that look great...until you actually try them on. Although shopping for shoes is generally much easier than many other types of clothing, some shoe colors simply don’t look good when they’re paired with certain skin tones. What’s awesome about tan flats is their neutral hue will flatter and bring out the best of any skin tone.

4. They’re Great for Travel