Mukishoes Thyme
On April 25, 2021 by Noelia
I won this pair of shoes on August 2020 on Instagram. I had seen the brand, but I was still new to barefoot shoes, so I didn’t know much about them.
I was surprised with the quality of the shoe, the comfort, and flexibility. I actually thought they were too flexible for me. I had to wear them with an extra insole and in short periods of time!
Because I love my Mukishoes so much, I have become an affiliate to the brand and you can get 10% off with the code MAESTRAMUKI
Company
Mukishoes was founded by Madlen and Marta from Portugal with the goal of creating barefoot shoes using natural and non-toxic materials. They want to make sure there is a fair production process and a minimum impact on the environment and human lives. They find local supplier and take surpluses from factories to upcycle into their shoes, reducing waste created by the textiles industry.
Madlen and Marta try to find family-own, local businesses as partners in order to reduce their carbon footprint during production. They believe in creating a quality barefoot shoe that you can be worn in different occasions.
I love that Mukishoes is a sustainable and ethical company!
They are part of the slow fashion movement.
Materials
- Upper: organic linen
- Inner lining: organic linens
- Sole: natural rubber
- Laces: cotton
They are 100% vegan!
Mukishoes are made with local, organic, and fair trade materials.
The linen is dyed locally with GOTS certified pigments. (GOTS certified: contains at least 95% organic fiber, no bleach, formaldehyde or any other toxic substances, and produced with strict social and environmental standards). Because each shoe is handcrafted with natural materials, there might be some slight differences in colors and finishes.
Their soles are made of recycled and synthetic rubber.
The linen is a very soft material and it allows the natural movement of the feet. Combined with the rubber sole, this shoe is light and provides a great barefoot feeling.
Barefoot qualities
- Zero drop (no toe lift)
- Sole is thin (3.5 mm) and extremely flexible.
- Wide toe box (4″ outsole) that accommodates my squared feet.
- Best for medium to wide feet.
- Provides a lot of ground feel.
- Natural materials allow for foot and ankle mobility.
Sizing and Fit
Mukishoes provides a printout in order to measure your feet against the length of the shoes (I wish they would include a small ruler on it so I can confirm I have the right sizing). I ended up using the internal length provided on their size chart and not the printout.
My feet are 24.8 cm in length and I got size 40, which has a 26.1 cm of internal length.
When I first got them, I was still pretty new to barefoot shoes and I felt they were too loose on me. I added an insole and always wore them with toe socks. I now wear them without the insole and barefoot. I really enjoy having space for my feet, I’m so used to it now, that I dislike the feeling of them being squished. I also believe my feet are stronger and, therefore, higher volume.
Things to know about mukishoes:
- They are designed for high volume feet.
- If your feet are low volume, you can make them work, but you will have to play around with insoles, socks, felt tongue pads, heel pads, etc.
- They work best for medium to wide feet (my feet are 9.8 cm wide and size 40 provides ample space for me).
- The sole is very thin and provides a lot of ground feel. This is not a transitional shoe! You can always add an insole to help you transition.
Shoe care
Mukishoes recommends to scrub off dry dirt and treat spots locally.
It is ok to hand wash them, but do not put them in the washing machine nor dryer.
How to Wear Them
When I first got them, as I’ve stated before, I was new to barefoot shoes… which means I was used to wearing high heels all the time. I really didn’t know how to style sneakers!
This model made it really easy. They are pink and pretty. I can wear them with dresses, pants or jeans. I wear them all the time to work, where I walk around 3 miles every day (I’m a teacher). I can also go from work to walking my dogs (another 1-2 miles)… these are sneakers after all, so they can handle all the activity throughout my day.
Opinion
I love that the company is sustainable and ethical, so I will keep supporting them.
The materials are extremely high quality and they are well-made shoes.
The Thyme model is really cute, I can dress it up or down. They perform amazingly for my daily activity. Overall, I’m really impressed and I love it!
Use code MAESTRAMUKI and get 10% off!