shoes - your honest opinion

[mo' hop]

Ok, I haven't posted here in months because I've been busy starting my own little shoemaking company.

I've love to hear your first impressions and opinions on my website and sandals. I'm honestly not soliciting here (yet, haha), just looking for some honest opinions because veggieboarders always tell it like it is. Seriously, feel free to be brutal! (Portions of the site are still under construciton, btw.)

Thanks!
Annie

http://www.mohop.com/

[borealis]

Oooo, I really like them. Very swank! The shapes of the footbeds, the designs... I'm not sure about the ribbons and how well they'd stay on my feet, but it looks like you've done a lot of field-testing...

I'd buy a pair, depending on price :)

[borealis]

I think a photo showing the bottom of the sole would be good, and maybe close-ups of the heels and the loops that the ribbons go through.

[SeaSiren]

I think they are adorable!

[madder]

They look really great, but I don't think I could walk in a kitten heel! And they're a bit too expensive for my (student) budget!

They are amazing shoes though! Well done, and good luck!

[Michael]

If you live in Chicago how come you've never joined us for a meetup?

Those are some nice looking shoes, don't look very comfortable though. :-/ I really like the website, very clean and no clutter.

[Vanilla Bean]

Very unique style of shoes. They've got flavor! I really like the silver high heels pictures on the home page at the top left with the bow. They're hot!

I think it's so cool that you've started your own business. What motivated you to take the chance and do your own thing? I work in an office all day and I really want to get out and do something different, just not sure what yet.
Well best of luck and I wish you much success!

[KimberlyNYC]

The designs are great and the "strapping system" is an awesome idea. Interchangable ribbons; how cool. :)

[borealis]

They don't look any more uncomfortable than a lot of women's shoes, Michael (Dr. Scholl's, anyone? :p ) I imagine the recycled tire rubber sole gives them a bit of springiness.

[thebelovedtree]

Those are awesome, and would be wonderful for someone like me who doesn't keep 1000 pairs of shoes on hand because I never dress up. I could just switch out the ribbon and have matching shoes.

[borealis]

Have you thought about doing a thong style, mo' hop?

[Amy SF]

They're adorable! I especially like the green ones.

[Sunny]

They're very cute, very unique. Unfortunately, I couldn't afford them. I wouldn't mind getting a pair (or two or three) as a gift though!

It looks like there is a screw going through the heel. I wonder if that would tend to irritate my foot after a while.

[baypuppy]

they are really cute. i'm not a girlie girl and don't wear things usually like this. my only thought would be to offer one with a more "chunky" heal.

i love the idea of having the different ribbons to make them look different. and the page layout is nice, easy to navagate.

[Cissy]

I love them, oh my god, I love them. I don't have the money for them at the moment, but they're GORGEOUS.

[mo' hop]

Thanks so much for your comments everyone. Your remarks and advice are soooo valuable to me!



I think it's so cool that you've started your own business. What motivated you to take the chance and do your own thing? I work in an office all day and I really want to get out and do something different, just not sure what yet.

I started basically because a friend of mine wanted to share a booth at a craft fair - she knew I tend to be sort of crafty. So I thought and thought about what I wanted to make - I wanted to make something that would really stand out at a craft fair. So I just decided to try to make shoes. I spent months making prototypes, and finally came up with the current shoes. I'm still getting the high heels worked out (heels are by far the hardest thing to make), but I'm happy with the response I've gotten at shows so far, and I'm proud of the fact that the shoes are environmentally friendly and vegetarian, but still appeal to the 'mainstream'. Anyway, the shoes keep me so busy that I quit my job as an architect in October and now I'm doing this full time.

When I was sitting at a desk, pushing a mouse around all day, I dreamed about when I'd finally be able to be my own boss. But, I have to confess, it's much more stressful than I had imagined. I'm still having trouble working efficiently unless I have a deadline overhead, and sandals don't sell so well in the middle of January... But I definately wouldn't go back - this spring/summer will be my first full season, and I'm really excited to see what will happen. Hopefully in the next year or two, I can start making shoes and boots... i looooooove boots :)

And Michael, I signed up for tomorrows meetup :up:

[KimberlyNYC]

I just went back to the site and man, I still can't believe how great those shoes are. :yes: :kiss:

[soilman]

I was too busy looking at the feet, to take much notice the shoes. When I finally got around to looking at the shoes -- the screenprinted drawings are wonderful -- but no-one is going to see them when you are wearing the shoes! Birch plywood? Ouch! Who is going to wanted to be standing, with their bare feet yet, on hardwood? I'd wear them if I depended on a wheel chair for locomotion. They would look very nice in my closet, or left about on the floor, to decorate the floor, in one room or another.

[~Luna~]

Excellent material choice :D

(<- is a Finn and knows that Finnish wood is of high quality because the trees grow slowly here)

[isowish]

they are beautiful, but I am not girly or rich enough for them.

[mo' hop]

When I finally got around to looking at the shoes -- the screenprinted drawings are wonderful -- but no-one is going to see them when you are wearing the shoes!

Thanks! I think of it like nice lingerie... why wear a pretty bra if no one is going to see it when you* are wearing a shirt?

*not you, soilman


Birch plywood? Ouch! Who is going to wanted to be standing, with their bare feet yet, on hardwood? I'd wear them if I depended on a wheel chair for locomotion.

LOL! If wood is so painful, then why do so many chefs wear wood-bottomed clogs when working 16 hours on their feet in the kitchen? :) Actually wood is very comforable because, if the footbed is shaped correctly, you get firm, even support along the length of the foot, which is especially important for high heels. I can wear my highest heels walking and standing for 12 hours straight at my shows, with no discomfort at all - I'd be crying after 3 hours in 'regular' 3" heels. (They're also comforable because it you're walking and standing a lot, your feet sort of swell, and these shoes will stretch, not pinch.) Completely honestly, my shoes are the only shoes I've ever been able to wear, brand-new, on a five mile walk and not get one single blister or abrasion - even new running sneakers always give me blisters.

Anyway, thanks for your comments, you've inspired me to round up some of my previous customers for some testimonials on their comfort ;)

[mo' hop]

Excellent material choice :D

(<- is a Finn and knows that Finnish wood is of high quality because the trees grow slowly here)

I tried many types of wood, and Finnish really is the best :bow:

[mo' hop]

Oh, and i wish i could make them a lot cheaper :sick: - it was really important to me that they be affordable for everyone, but unfortunately, it's not working out like that. (i personally have never spent anywhere close to $150 for shoes). I really wish the pricing could be more 'democratic'... when I see how things are going in the spring, I plan to offer a *hefty* discount to VBers.

[thebelovedtree]

mo'hop I've never spent more than $30 in shoes and normally I think its really stupid to do so but I'm actually thinking once I get a job (I just moved and I've got to get my animals all settled in before I start dissapperaing all day) I would love a pair.

When I think of all the times I've dropped $20 on a pair of shoes and match one dress I'm only going to wear a few time I could easily see these shoes saving me money and being way more comfortable then the cheap shoes I typically wear to special events.

[Tesseract]

I LOVE the concept! It's fabulous, and the results are gorgeous!

But I don't think it's for me. I don't do well with sandals because I can't stand putting my bare feet in contact with any non-absorbent surface, such as leather or plastic... and probably, wood! I insist on wearing socks with everything, even my Tevas. My feet sweat, and sweaty foot + non-absorbent shoe = GROSS, STINKY! Then there's the fact that I'm just not a sandal girl, and I look pretty stupid in girly sandals. But I've been having such problem with my hammertoes that I've been thinking I need to learn to wear sandals. These shoes sound very forgiving as far as fit across the top of the foot and around the toes.

I would also wonder how well the ribbons stay tied. It's bad enough having a tennis shoe come untied, but these would fall right off if they came untied!

I will definitely be forwarding your site to a friend of mine who is a sandal maniac! BTW, sandals sell year-round down here in sub-tropical Houston. :)

PS: The pictures in the gallery are beautiful, but I'd be a little lost as to how to actually achieve each look. You might consider including a section that actively teaches your customers different ways to tie the ribbon for different looks , and actively suggests ways to experiment with your own ribbons and decorations. Dunno if that's already planned for the Accessories section.