Saint-Raph’s Inaugural Shoe Collection with Matt Bruening, Pineapple Ice and More

Bonus: This company is all about less waste, more taste.

Halt. We’re waging war against frumpy footwear and your insipid shoes have become a target. Instead of throwing you in the brig for couture crimes, though, we’re going to send you to a stylish boot camp.

Don’t worry, there’s no basic training happening at this fashion intensive, just a sweet slew of styles from the inaugural collection of alternative shoe brand Saint-Raph. The company paired up with Hawai‘i creatives Matt Bruening, Lindsey Higa of Pineapple Ice, Cheryl Leong and Alyssa Wooten for 20 pieces of dressy-meets-casual men’s and women’s shoes that can go seamlessly from boardroom to bar. The Saint-Raph structure, which aims to reduce the waste plaguing the conventional retail model, offers customers a 20-day order window preceding a 40-day manufacturing period, during which each shoe is handcrafted to order. Oh, and another detail we love: Check each shoe’s listing on the Saint-Raph site and you’ll find a comprehensive breakdown of what each element of production costs, from labor and materials to import duty. No tricks here; the Saint-Raph team wants you to know exactly what you’re paying for.

As for the shoes themselves? These contemporary creations have serious modern street flair (think full-grain leather, mauve suede and flashy metallics), but look closer and you’ll find Hawai‘i-inspired elements and luxe details. Creations for the dudes hearkens back to the cross-cultural influences of plantation days, with imported Japanese selvage denim, while ladies' options marry the quintessential resort piece—the espadrille—with a sporty tomboy silhouette. And, at $125–$160, these handmade shoes are clocking it at pretty damn affordable.

Now, that's fierce.