A Ballerina Flat For The People

by The ShoesTV Team February 13th, 2012 at 1:10 PM

LUV Footwear is celebrating its April launch by offering its ballerina flats as a canvas to aspiring designers and artists. Through the LUV Open Call project a select few will have their artwork featured on a LUV ballerina flat and sold in stores worldwide.

Exploded Lotus

LUV Footwear was created by Michael Toschi, whose 30-year career in footwear includes design consulting at UGG, Nike, Puma, Gap, Avia, ESPRIT and Reebok. Toschi went on to launch Ariat, an equestrian footwear company, and, in 1997, founded Michael Toschi International, a performance luxury men’s footwear and accessories brand that's handcrafted in Italy.

Jewels

Through LUV Footwear, Toschi is hoping to create more than just at shoe. "I wanted to create a culture around a brand that somehow involved itself in a healthy way with its consumer," said Toschi. He was touched by a DOVE Foundation video that he says reminded him of how "sometimes the media and fashion industries can send negative messages to women and girls."

Lotus

LUV styles will be available on the company website and retailers like Nordstrom at prices ranging from $32 for a toddler flat to $37 for youth and $40 for adult styles. These price points are part of Toschi's mission to "make an iconic women's and kid's shoe that through price would unite people rather than create a hierarchy."

Zebra Print

The LUV ballerina flats, which took two years to develop, come in a multitude of colors and designs. The outsole is made of injection molded EVA and the printed uppers are made of lycra, making them perfectly waterproof.