I have always found symbolism to be a fascinating thing, stemming from my undergrad where I studied quite a bit of it. Did you know, that before we reach a year old, we are able to discern and understand symbols? Iconic memories, things we see, only spend about 0.3 seconds in our brains while echoic memories (audio) last about four to five seconds. Yet, our brains are more partial to remembering what we see rather than what we hear. Visualization has a much longer history in the human experience than words.
Nene Shoes were created to serve as a symbol of strengthening the relationships between mothers and daughters. Supporters of the soul and not just the soles, if you can stand that pun. Stepping into them is meant to remind you to spend time with one another, somewhat in the same way the seat belt sign reminds you to “buckle up for safety”. Because of my love for symbolism, shoes, and most importantly, shoes family, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to try them out.
My first thought was how sweet it is that their principle of unifying the mother-daughter bond went down to the shoe box. Both boxes in one case. The shoes? The shoes are adorable. Classy and cute all at the same time and the design works perfectly for a little girl and her mom (which can be said about each Nene shoe design).
The shoes themselves are made from quality leather, which lends to the durability of the shoe. The cushioning of the footbed and heel is so fluffy for a flat, and it’s immediately noticeable. Seeing it made me feel good about putting Isabella in flats all day long to run around. Surprisingly, my toddler, who takes off her shoes the MOMENT she gets into the car, sits down at a restaurant, or when she gets home, kept them on all day long. She ran all over creation and did not once ask me if she could take them off.
Four days into a perpetual rainstorm, we took them out for a spin to really test out the non-skid flexible soles. I am happy to report that I, although massively prone to accidents, did not break my face. Nor did I slip. This is coming from the person that just last week spilled soup all over my shoulder when the spoon was less than a centimeter from my mouth. Isabella, who is only slightly less accident prone and was running, didn’t slip either.
As with any other shoe, these have to be broken in. However, they cozy up to your foot quickly and painlessly. As for sizing, they run slightly small and don’t come in half sizes. I am a 7 1/2 and fit comfortably in an 8.
I must disclaim that I am a firm believer that kindness and goodness exist, amply, in this world. But the principle of “family” is anemically valued. Because of this, I was thrilled to stumble upon a company such as Nene Shoes, which is built on the foundation of family. I grew up around a dinner table where my father would often quote his favorite hymn, “Families Can Be Together Forever” and a mother who constantly reminded us to “Love One Another”. I can only hope that Isabella remembers, if nothing else, how much her mother tried to ensure that we all spent time together, loved each other, valued family, and taught her how to rock a good flat.
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*Thank you to Nene Shoes for providing these sweet pairs of Emma Pink and Taupe Flats for review. All comments and opinions are my own.
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