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Oh boy Darlings do I have a find for you today! That’s right: keep reading for the low down on what is quite possibly one of the most unique local shoe brands out there. Trust me - when you see these babies you are going to gasp with excitement – if you don’t gasp you might be dead inside, it’s the only explanation really. Here’s why you are going to fall head over heels (excuse the shameless pun) with Luli Pulani Shoes!
Luli Pulani ‘s founder, Lara started the brand after a year spent lecturing at the Footwear Academy where she’d specialised in footwear design after studying at fashion design school. She’d always wanted to start her own footwear and accessories brand and she’d noticed that there was a huge demand for locally made high quality products in South Africa. She realised that she could offer something special and super unique to the market and so one day decided to take the plunge and put her designs out into the big wide world.
Her first hurdle was trying to find a manufacturer that would help out a small company with a low budget and small runs. She struck gold when she teamed up with a retired footwear manufacturer in Cape Town who works from a small double garage in his home. With his help and mentorship Lara was able to bring her designs to life. Luli Pulani started off small, at first popping up at markets and selling online, but from there the brand grew and Lara teamed up with fashion designers for events such as Fashion week and Design Indaba. Today she stocks two boutiques in Cape Town, one in Port Elizabeth and two in Namibia!
The thing I love most about Luli Pulani’s shoes is that they are hand crafted and completely locally made. The shoes are manufactured using real leather and recycled fabrics which results in some of the most unique and high quality shoe designs you will ever lay your hands on. Lara’s designs are fun, earthy and oh-so-feminine and I’m quite sure it’s almost impossible to not fall in love with at least one of her super awesome designs. The range includes everything from pretty sandals to ballet pumps, brogues and more. Some of my favourites include the gorgeous ribbon inspired Xover Sandal which wraps around your feet to create a beautifully elegant look (they come in various colours including blue, red, white, and pink – R520), the fabulous Flapper Pumps which come in all sorts of fabulous patterns and colours (R570) and the Boho Brogue lace ups (R685).
I got the chance to walk a mile in these shoes (ok not exactly a mile but it was a pretty thorough walk), more specifically a pair of fabulous flapper T-bar pumps in black and white. I slipped them on the second I got them and was amazed at the quality of workmanship in the shoes. Firstly, the leather is of an incredibly high quality and they fit perfectly when I put them on. Of course, because they are leather I had to walk them in for a day but after that they were super comfy. The black and white striped material used for the top of the shoe is also super unique and I have never seen anything quite like it in our local stores. After just a day in my new Luli Pulani shoes I was already on the lookout for another pair to call my own.
But, if shoes aren’t quite your thing then you’ll be happy to hear that Lara has also expanded the range to include handbags and a few leather accessories such as rings and bracelets, so now you can shop the Luli Pulani collection for all your accessory needs. To get your hands on something special from the Luli Pulani range you can check out their Facebook page or contact Lara for the e-catalogue and place your order via email.
Say Hi to to see the full collection and order your very own Luli Pulani piece today!
By Crystal Espin
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