I recently hosted a first day of summer party where there were a few mix-ups with the guests' footwear. When the dust had settled the next day a single pair of havaianas flip-flops were sitting at my front door without an owner. In all my years at gravitypope I've sold hundreds of pairs of the brazilian flip-flops that seem to be on everybody's must-have-for-summer list. But I've had my doubts. How could these havaianas be any different from all the other $5 - $20 flip-flops out there? I assumed this was just another flash in the pan summer fad. But we've been doling out the havaianas for three consecutive summers now and they're still in high demand. So there was a pair of havaianas without an owner sitting at my front door. My curiosity was peeked so I slipped them on to run outside, and I finally saw the appeal to the soft rubber flip-flops. They really are the most comfortable sandals for $20 you can find!

Unfortunately for me, the havaiana's owner dropped by my house to claim his lost pair, and I'm left with all my non-brazilian rubber sandals. One wear sold me on havaianas, and I'm sure you'll be sold too. They're available in almost any colour, and now they're available for online ordering at gravitypope.com!

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  Brazilian shoe brand Melissa has found popularity and press for their fashionable, comfortable and smelly (they smell like bubblegum) plastic footwear. Melissa is the original ‘jelly’, born in 1979 in Brazil. For over 28 years the Melissa label has been creating and designing shoes that are exported to all parts of the world. Sandals, heels, and flats; Melissa creates a huge selection of footwear in every colour imaginable. Joining the trend of designer collaborations, Melissa has joined forces with the master queen of high fashion, Vivienne Westwood.

"The most amazing thing about this partnership was to be able to create modern products, with very high quality, for affordable prices" - Vivienne Westwood

  For more than three decades Vivienne Westwood has forged her way into the hearts, minds and purses of fashionistas across the globe.Westwood has created two models through her Anglomania brand exclusively for melissa.  Westwood's classic Mary Jane originally made out of leather and launched in her winter '00 collection 'Summertime' has been re-birthed in plastic. In addition, as Westwood lends her Anglomania design to melissa ... melissa returns in kind with Westwood doing her own take on the cult melissa 'ultragirl' slipper.

Vivienne Westwood's 'summertime' in Melissa plastic

Vivienne Westwood's 'ultragirl' in Melissa flocked plastic

  Westwood's trademark practicality is a faultless match for melissa's injected thermoplastic.  "This technique guarantees perfect shapes without interweaves as we see in fabrics ..." says the designer herself. In Anglomania all of Westwood's quintessential Englishness and unabashed historicism loans itself neatly to her creations for melissa's collection. Her designs are unquestionably British, undeniably feminine and fearlessly non-conformist.  melissa renowned for its innovation and boldness seems the ideal fit for this enviable brand extension.  Indeed, as Westwood once likened fashion to a baby that she had picked up and never put down melissa is precisely that for many devotees.

Westwood is an institution, now the esteemed matriarch counts the melissa brand as a part of her monarchy.

  We carry a full range of Melissa footwear at gravitypope stores in Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver and online at gravitypope.com. Also available this year are a couple of great flats and wedges. The classic 'night' has been flocked in a variety of great colours, adding a velvety texture to regularily shiny plastic shoes.

'night' in flocked plastic

Melissa's heels always stand out, "how can a heel be made entirely of plastic?" -- They're made entirely of strong, soft reinforced injected thermoplastic that easy to take care of and lasts forever.

'vinyl'
Two special edition styles from Melissa are designed this season by Alexandre Herchcovitch. Herchcovitch thinks as

melissa thinks: FASHION is FUN, CLOTHES COMMUNICATE and DESIGN is all about STYLE.

  Being ahead of its time, creating different styles and seeing fashion as a strong communication channel has always been melissa's way of life. It was this belief that led melissa to Alexandre Herchcovitch - a designer who is able to transform classic into modern, simple into glamourous, easy into complex and shoes into a fashion accessory.

  Herchcovitch's collaboration with Melissa began in 2002 and since then he has created two or more styles for melissa every year. The models created by Herchcovitch are now the most cherished fashion icons on the cosmopolitan circuit. Working on a simple concept - to seek fun - the designer has combined plastic with style and started a new chapter in design.

Alexandre Herchcovitch 'joy'

Check out everything on offer for summer 2008 at gravitypope.com!

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As their blog-style website retrosuperfuture.com states: "For your joy and excitement, just before the release of the brand new iPhone, and not later than the new Pixar movie, here you go with the new fresh styles and pictures by Super with Zeiss lenses!!" The retrosuperfuture website might be a bit full of ESL comments.. but the message is loud and clear: People all over the world love these sunglasses.

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I'm excited to post to day, as we've got new shoes from Wings+Horns the much blogged about Canadian designers. I posted about their Leather Service Boots a few days ago. Their quality and basic style are distinctly awesome, and the new High-Cut Leather Sneakers are just as great. These all leather high tops feature 9 eyelets, welted soles and a side zipper for easy slip on and off; they're made in Italy to boot!

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Puma has joined in the trend of old-timey high tops with extra eyelets and slim soles with the addition of the Hesselberg high top to the Rudolph Dassler Schuhfabrik line. These shoes are far from your typical Pumas, subtle colour pallets, fine detailing and slim lasts make the Schuhfabrik shoes just that much more special. The "Rudolf Dassler Schuhfabrik" collection is inspired by the timelessness that is sports and its character is stamped by the influence of cultural styles such as Cubism and Bauhaus, Dadaism and Jazz, Modernism and Avant-garde.With its natural and puristic style the collection takes one back down memory lane to the unforgettable hours of major sport events. The Dassler collection is provocative and modern, going back to the origin of sports and with its name remembering the founder of PUMA, Rudolf Dassler.

Available for men and women are the Hesselberg in grey canvas, black and white leather with 12 eyelets, slim sole and the original 'D' Puma logo from 1948. A patterned canvas version is also available in women's sizes at gravitypope.com.

There's many more shoes and styles to check out at gravitypope.com

Check out our gravitypope tailored goods fashion blog here

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I'm extremely proud to introduce wings + horns to our gravitypope fans. At gravitypope we spend each year searching for unique new footwear and fashion designers. We find amazing things from all over the world: Scandinavia, U.S.A, Japan, Europe and Brazil.. But for the first time in a very long time I'm able to talk about a new Canadian brand.. being Canadian this is a special moment for me.

Lthr-service-boot-blk-d2

Lthr-service-boot-blk-d1

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Spring 2008's line of Converse by Jon Varvatos has arrived at gravitypope and gravitypope.com! They're a great alternative to regular old chucks, offering nice leather details, a slimmed down sole, and a more mature, fashionable look.

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It is Paul Smith's ambition to get men to wear colour this season. With candy striped blazers, bright trousers and scarves all accented with bright pink sneakers walking down the runway that ambition is apparent. New at gravitypope.com we are featuring those excellent bright pink sneakers (also available in white and gray) from Paul Smith. Check out the Paul Smith "hudson".

This simple sneaker gives plain old vans a run for their money with signature striped details (see: lining, laces, soles) bringing the plain old summer sneaker a lift for summer 2008. Wear them with or without socks, on jeans days or trouser days. Make a punch with the pink or go for the more subdued gray if that pink is a little too hot.

Paul Smith girls will be happy to find a few new casual styles from our favourite brit. Paul Smith's highly sought after high-tops return in a black and floral print. New this season is a converse inspired circular patch on the ankle in purple patent leather that simply states "Paul".

Manaus bf d1

There's plenty more to see at gravitypope.com (just wait until you see the heels and dress shoes from Paul)

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A new brand at gravitypope this year is YMC - short for 'You Must Create' a designer brand from London that started out with clothing but has branched into footwear in recent years. Their spring/summer 2008 collection utilizes a 40's and 50's pre-surf Hollywood leasure to create a line that is truly unique.

First to arrive from YMC at gravitypope is the classic styled plimsole runner.

Check them out at gravitypope.com

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I got an update from our Store Manager in Calgary, Bre, about the Vans in the Paul Smith stripe in the last posting. These are a special edition Vault Vans series produced in the Maharam fabric designed by Paul Smith.

Ps-stripe

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