TAO SHOES | BLACK
::Redefining barefoot shoes::
*Completely handmade in the UK by Gaucho Ninja
*Slip on shoes
*Top quality Spanish veg tan leather. Full grain and with deep tones and colors.
*Blake welted and manually stitched
*Breathable barefoot shoe, minimalist footwear design and flexible soles
*Wide toe box, zero drop
*Flat soles, made by Vibram
*Ultra lightweight
*Re sole and keep enjoying them
SIZING
::The Barefoot Tao shoes::
A new design by Gaucho Ninja, the Barefoot Tao Shoes offers a slip-on shoe with a glove like feeling.
No laces, no time wasted.
Elegant and extremely comfortable.
They are made with the best materials the way it was done in the past: to endure.
They are extremely lightweight (each shoe only weighing between 200 and 250g, about the weight of a standard sized apple) so are excellent for dancers or for anyone who likes the feeling of feet free to dance!
They are flexible enough to fold in half without damaging them. Being a backpacker in a previous life Gaucho Ninja has made sure you can easily store them in a bag or rucksack as a second pair of shoes after removing your flip-flops or welly boots.
They shape to your feet providing a smooth, close fit. Your feet will delight in the comfort. The soles are thin and flexible too, providing the barefoot feel. If you like to practise stealthy walking like a tracker or Ninja these are ideal to try out or you might simply enjoy the sensation of touching the different surfaces of the ground with your feet.
The slim sole and malleable upper provide a welcome relief for feet that are sore from being cramped all day in hard, tight shoes. This excellent combination can also relieve back pain and promote good posture. Each pair is lovingly made by hand.
The production occurs in a small workshop built by Gaucho Ninja himself.The workshop nestles next to a stream at the bottom of the Black Mountains, a suitable place for a Gaucho and a Ninja….
This leather is tanned in the traditional way in Spain by the master tanner, 74-year-old Alfredo Caballero, using traditional tools and methods tried and tested over many generations. Alfredo is an elder, in the true sense of the word, whose knowledge and skills come from his forefathers. The result is a material that industrial methods cannot accomplish.
Each leather is unique, your eyes will delight in the different tones and depth of colour. Each shade reminding you of the grace of a moving animal. Leather is a by-product. Animals are not killed for their skins. By using leather products your ethical conscience can rest assured that you are making exceptionally good use of what would otherwise be waste. For many of us the aroma of naturally tanned leather brings a feeling of wellbeing. In a world filled with highly processed materials our sense of smell appreciates this.
The shoes are made individually, being made one pair of shoes at a time. It slows the process and raises the quality. Cut by hand, stitched by sewing machine on a slow setting, the whole shoe is carefully made to the most detailed finish.
The Vibram sole, made in Italy, is fixed with extra strong glue, that can be replaced if need be after heavy usage, as the uppers will get better and better with time.
Treatment for the leather is recommended once a month with natural oils such as neat's-foot oil or any natural leather conditioner. A tin of Handmade Gaucho Ninja Leather conditioner is supplied with each pair of Chukka boots (if available at time of purchase).
For yourself or as a special gift you will feel as if you have bought something both essential and luxurious, irreplaceable and exclusive. These are not just a pair of shoes, but a work of art. Or perhaps, more accurately a work of true craftsmanship.
True craftsmen are an endangered species in our highly technological, mass produced consumer world. We suffer from feelings of disconnection, loneliness, stress. Know that your life will be enriched by a pair of shoes whose story is connected to many other living beings, human and other than human, a pair of shoes that have a story to tell even before they join your story…..
For extra size, please write me and I will be happy to explore the options with you. How have your shoes been made? Look this video showing Gaucho Ninja's secret techniques: http://www.gauchoninja.com
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::OUR STORY::
Gaucho Ninja Leather UK ガウチョ 忍者
A blend of Argentinian Cowboy + Japanese Martial Arts Gaucho Ninja was created by Lisandro Serra Delmar in 2015.