High Feels Sandals No.3

I was lucky to find these new High Feels for sale on Poshmark at half their price! I’ve been eyeing them for months, but because they don’t ship to the US, I’ve stalking all the different second-hand websites (eBay, Mercari, Poshmark) hoping I would find them and I lucked out… I found this pair in my size!

I am not affiliated to Highfeels but I did reach out to them and Daniel was kind enough to answered all the questions I had about their company and products. So thank you Daniel!

First Impressions

I’m in love!

I used to wear high heels all the time. Since I transitioned to barefoot shoes, I have been looking for sandals or shoes that would replace the high heels that I wore with formal wear. This is where their name comes from, actually, instead of wearing high heels, we wear High Feels 🙂 It is difficult to find shoes designed specifically for women, that are attractive and formal enough for special events.

I want a pair of High Feels in every color they offer with the two different straps the have! I’m really hoping they can ship to the US in the future!

Company

Highfeels was founded by the power couple Yamina and Daniel. It all started in 2014  when Yamina converted to barefoot shoes but was unable to find nice-looking sandals. They were going to start traveling the world so Yamina designed and made 3 pairs to take with her. They did not last the entire trip, but when they were in Colombia, Yamina was able to find an artisan shoemaker that created a pair of sandals according to her design. When they came back, she posted a picture on Instagram and had a lot of interest from her followers. That’s when they decided they were going to start the company.

They launched their crowdfunding campaign in 2016 after months of refining the design and finding the right manufacturers.

Yamina and Daniel’s main goal is to create a product that empowers people, especially women who need a chic alternative to high heels. On Daniel’s words: “We want people to be able to stand their ground; secure and ready for anything that may come their way.”

Their sandals are produced in Portugal and Spain as these countries have a long tradition of quality shoe making, where people are being paid a fair wage. There is also a short way from factory to warehouse to customers, making the process more environmentally friendly.

Their design is timeless, making them part of the slow-fashion movement and they are made without exploiting animals, 100% vegan!

Yeah, these sandals are:

• Ethically made
• Environmentally friendly
• Vegan

Materials

Their shoes are PETA approved vegan. They only use leather alternatives that come from Italy and Spain.

The upper sole, inside of straps, and long straps are made of breathable microfiber fabric that absorbs and releases moisture, it feels and looks like suede leather.

This material is:

• Free of Chromium VI (found in leather tanned with chromic sulfate)
• Manufactured CO2-free (no carbon footprint manufacturing)
• Labeled OEKO-TEX Standard 100 (Label for textiles tested for harmful substances: it means that every component of the article has been tested and, therefore, it is harmless for human health.)

The top of the straps and toe ring are made of microfiber that looks like shiny leather.  The toe ring has an extra PU coating, which makes it more robust and resistant to tears, kinks, and abrasion, it also gives it a nice metallic shine. PU is an environmentally friendlier alternative to other DWR treatments.

The sole is a non-slip rubber mixture, slightly ribbed with good grip.

They are not recommended for water.

Design

These are gorgeous looking sandals!

They are handcrafted, which means they might have small imperfections, but I do not see any on my sandals.

Highfeels pays attention to every detail and they are beautiful from near and far.

They also check all the barefoot requirements:

• No heel (zero drop)
• No padding
• Thin and flexible sole – 3 mm of rubber and 2 mm of microfiber, making them 5 mm thick.
• Wide toe box – designed for Egyptian feet, but accommodates different shapes.
• Straps that keep the sandal in place (no toe grips)

The model that I bought has:

• Toe ring that is NOT adjustable
• Adjustable strap on top of foot
• Straps that wrap around the ankle and need to be tied with a knot.

The new models offer:

• Adjustable toe ring
• Adjustable strap on top of foot
• Adjustable Y-strap

Even though my sandals do not have an adjustable toe ring, they fit perfectly.  My feet are low volume and I can see how people with high volume would struggle to get these on their big toes. That’s why they modified their design to add an adjustable toe ring.

The straps around my ankle can be adjusted and the material is very soft and supple. I do have to adjust them throughout the day a couple of times, but I could have left them alone too, as it was not a big deal (I do this with all my new sandals… I need to adjust them the first few times I wear them until I feel I have found the right fit). The Y-straps that come with the new models are supposed to get a better hold of your ankles, making them more stable. They are both removable and you can play around with ribbons or scarves to change the look.

Care

Highfeels are not designed for water. If they get dirty, you can:

• Remove dirt/dust with a damp cloth.
• If the stain is stubborn, you can use a piece of cloth or an old toothbrush dipped in water mixed with mild detergent. Then rinse under running water and let them air dry.
• DO NOT PUT IN WASHER NOR DRYER!

I have read that the white sandals do get dirty easier and they are more difficult to clean, so be aware.

Sizing

Highfeels provides a sizing guide that need to be printed.

I personally believe this is the best way to choose your size.

The PDF has a dot between your big toe and your second toe, showing where the toe ring will be positioned.

Once you have your foot on the paper, with the dot on the right spot, check the length and width of the sandal. If you are not sure this is the right size, print the next size up or down (depending on your needs) and try again.

I am wearing size 39, which is my usual size for sandals, it provides a close fit, which I prefer, and it also looks sharper, if you ask me.

Where to buy

You can buy them on their website for 129 Euros. They provide free shipping in Germany.

They ship in the EU Europe for 11 Euros.

They stopped shipping to the rest of the world since the pandemic started, but they usually ship to different countries for 24-45 Euros.

They have never shipped to the US (but are trying really hard to open up to our market).

Final Thoughts

These are very special sandals. From the design to the materials, you can see that there was a lot of thought put into them.

Since I saw these sandals for the first time, I knew I wanted a pair, but I did think their price was a little steep. Nevertheless, the more I learn about sustainability and ethical manufacturing, I understand that a good quality pair of shoes or sandals, in order to pay a decent wage to the people that make them and the use of environmentally friendly materials, comes with a cost. They are not producing sandals for the fast-fashion industry, but are creating beautiful sandals that you can wear for years.

Every material has been carefully chosen and the design is so perfect that with just a few thin laces, they can hold your foot without feeling constricted.

I would invest in another pair (or pairs) of these sandals in a heartbeat. Let’s cross our fingers so they can start shipping to the US in the near future.