MEET THE VIVOBAREFOOT PLUMA
Almost two years in the making and I am thrilled to announce my latest project the Pluma. My collaboration with Vivobarefoot, the Pluma is the brand’s first walker shoe safeguarding the foot’s natural desire to be free and wriggly and ‘in conversation’ with the ground.
When Mahi started toddling and needed proper shoes, I couldn’t find any foot-shaped first walker shoes on the market which were flexible enough to allow her feet to develop naturally while offering grip and protection. So Vivobarefoot and I got together to make one.
Did you know that babies' feet have no bones when they are born?
Initally made up of soft cartilage, the bones in babies’ feet don’t START developing until they begin putting weight on them at around 6-9 months, and don’t STOP developing until their late teens. Therefore children’s feet are soft and malleable, and easily moulded by inappropriate footwear, so it’s crucial to take care of the natural foot shape and allow for natural movement from the very moment they need shoes.
Being barefoot, or the next best thing - a light, flexible barefoot shoe like the Pluma - strengthens the muscles in children’s feet and ankles, improving their balance and posture.
Pluma means feather in several languages and I’m hoping this super light, breathable shoe allows a child taking their first steps to feel light-as-a-feather, without constriction, only freedom of movement. The shoe is simply a protective layer that allows the child to move as nature intended.
The shoes are available in two colourways, Silver Pine and Woodland Grey, in toddler sizes (size 2-7 UK / 18-24 EU) with pre-school sizes landing this week.
Pluma means feather in several languages and I’m hoping this super light, breathable shoe allows a child taking their first steps to feel light-as-a-feather, without constriction, only freedom of movement. The shoe is simply a protective layer that allows the child to move as nature intended.
The shoes are available in two colourways, Silver Pine and Woodland Grey, in toddler sizes (size 2-7 UK/18-24 EU) with pre-school sizes landing this week.
Sustainability and ethics are at the heart of Vivobarefoot shoes, from the materials used to the people who make them. Family-run business Vivobarefoot is a B-Corp meaning that social, and environmental performance and accountability are at the core of their brand. Once your child has outgrown the shoes you can safely pass them on as the very thin sole means there won’t be any foot imprint from the previous wearer. There is also the opportunity to send the Plumas to (and in time be able to purchase Plumas from) Vivo’s Revivo site - a marketplace for second-hand, repurposed Vivo shoes in order to create a circular system.
This time last week we finally launched the shoe, in person, to press and media at Farmacy Cafe in Notting Hill, London. Myself and team Vivo were joined for brunch by mothers and toddlers who were able to try the shoe straight away. Golden Milks, mushroom benedict and Chai Spiced Plum pancakes were served and we had a fascinating talk from podiatrist Rina Harris about the impact of footwear on children’s foot development and overall wellbeing.
My daughter Mahi, the inspiration behind the shoe featured in the campaign wearing the shoes I dreamt of during those first early steps. While she wasn’t there in person, she was there in spirit thanks to the campaign images we had around the cafe. Below she is wearing the Plumas in Woodland Grey while lying on her great-great aunt Joan’s crochet blanket!
