A Tree Grows in Haiti

Read how planting trees can help rebuild Haiti. myCATS has planted thousands of trees with the help our of customers who wear our eco-friendly espadrilles & alpargatas for men & women. Learn more at www.mycatshoes.com.

“Almost all of the country’s problems—natural disasters, food shortages, poverty—can be traced back to rampant deforestation,” says Ethan Budiansky, the Caribbean-programs officer at Trees for the Future, a nonprofit group that is planting thousands of trees in the mountains around Gonaïves. “So if we want to fix the country, we have to start there.” While there are no panaceas in Haiti, successful reforestation might come close. By absorbing water and holding soil in place, trees can minimize the impact of natural disasters and repair nutrient-poor agricultural lands. An aggressive reforestation campaign would also bring much-needed jobs to the region and, if done correctly, could solve the energy conundrum that led Haitians to cull their forests in the first place. “Planting trees is not just some quaint side project,” says U.N. Development Group chair Helen Clark. “It’s the key to rebuilding the country.”

Read more here:

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/16/a-tree-grows-in-haiti.html

Million Trees for Michael

Great effort to get more trees planted! And as always, we plant a pair of trees for every purchase from mycatshoes.com of our eco-friendly espadrilles and alpargatas. Learn more about our efforts at: http://mycatshoes.com/join_us.php

http://www.amilliontreesformichael.com/

Dress down with casual look of men's alpargatas & espadrilles

Men espadrilles worn with a suit? Yes!

We at mycatshoes.com are constantly looking for fresh ways to mix and match men's espadrilles. With this photo of matching dark espadrilles with a trim fitting suit you can't go wrong. Elegant and proper, yet casual at the same time.

Perfect combination of comfort & style.

Give us a look at myCATS and come see what everyone is talking about with these shoes and learn more about how having low environmental impact shoes is good for our world and how you can plant a pair of trees.

mycatshoes.com

pair of shoes plants pair of trees

Summer footwear trend: Espadrilles/Alpargatas

Summer Footwear Trend: Espadrilles

From the FashionBeans blog you can read about these great shoes called alpargatas/espadrilles. And on our website www.mycatshoes.com you can find a variety of styles for any occasion:

Begur model - works great by day, but also for night out on the town with touch of style from the leather strap across the top

Sitges model - the ultimate feel good anywhere shoe

Barcelona model - Sturdy canvas wants to be played in.

www.mycatshoes.com

Espadrilles for men & women - The origin

The espadrille is a traditional flat shoe designed with a canvas or cloth upper and soles made of rope, rubber or crepe. Shoemakers in the Pyrenees region, between Spain and France, first created the espadrille. By tradition, the espadrille had flat soles made of jute or esparto grass, a plant that produces fine, tough strands.

A Shoe from Spain

1. The alpargatero was a medieval shoemaker specializing in making the espardenya shoe in the Pyrenees region of northern Spain. They wove the basic material for the shoe sole from tough esparto grass. The alpargatero singed the esparto strands over a hot fire and then braided them to create the shoe. They coated the bottom of the shoe with pitch. A seamstress completed the job of stitching the uppers, made from woven flax, to the sole. Soldiers from Aragon and Catalaonia wore the tough footwear while on campaign.

The Durable Espardenya

2. The espardenya was inexpensive to make and very durable. The flexible rope soles allowed the shoe to conform to the shape of the foot, which made them extremely comfortable. Men as well as women wore espardenyas, which were ideal for work and travel over rough countryside and on mountain trails. They were suited for the warm summer months, but provided little warmth during the rest of the year.

Come check out our selection at - www.mycatshoes.com

How cute is this!

Amazing, sweet lady enjoying our flat espadrilles. These flat espadrilles are eco-friendly, use a natural anti-bacterial so your feet won't stink and the jute sole keeps your feet dry!

Available in many colors.

See www.mycatshoes.com for more information.

Men Sitges shoes shown by SPURR at NY Fashion week now come in Beige, Navy Blue, Blue/White Stripes, Red, and Solid & Striped mixed.

http://bit.ly/99Ssfu