Anna & Paul

Only Barefoot is Better

Anna and Paul are her children’s names and also the name of this fashionable first-step shoe label by Sonja Rendez from Cologne. Since 2001 the fashion designer has been creating “hip, high-quality and healthy baby shoes”. She received her first orders right at the kids’ playground. People had noticed the soft, little leather shoes she had sewn for her son for that transition time between crawling and walking. Today she produces are two collections a year with over 35 styles in topical trend colours. “Only barefoot is better,” says Rendez.

Initially made on her own sewing machine she has now long since had these hand-sewn shoes made of soft, chrome-free tanned leather manufactured at a small operation in Portugal. The shoes are supplied to stores in Germany, Italy, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Poland, the Netherlands, Dubai and Japan. The new styles for Spring/Summer 2009 are now ready for immediate order.

The look is colourful, very sweet and is full of fashionable details: “Ballerina” shimmers in attractive purple while “Cinderella” is a comfortable, lilac-coloured toddler’s sandal with leather lining and practical Velcro fastenings. “Sweetheart” is lovely in pink, Elephant features cute safari appliqués and Aladdin focuses on the look and colours of fairytales. Some styles, like “Starter”, for instance, feature soft rubber soles offering toddlers learning to walk perfect grip on smooth surfaces. The little shoes are available in sizes 16/17 (XS) to 30. Recommended retail prices range between Euro 30 and 39.