Lady killer. From our man James’ #oliberteweekend. 

Lady killer. From our man James’ #oliberteweekend. 

We’ve been wanting to have some fun with those clever Instagrammers, so we’re having an #oliberteweekend. Interested to see who chimes in! If you want, learn more here. And of course, have an AWESOME weekend.

Our pal, artist Sean Woolsey, in a well-loved pair of Mogado HI. Shot by Ryan Haack.

Our pal, artist Sean Woolsey, in a well-loved pair of Mogado HI. Shot by Ryan Haack.

Mulat, who is seen here assembling a Liona sandal, works with his father at one of our partner factories. His name means “fullness,” and his father’s, “umbrella.” In Ethiopia, children typically take their father’s first names as their last names, and often these names combine to mean something — in this case, the security of full cover.

Mulat, who is seen here assembling a Liona sandal, works with his father at one of our partner factories. His name means “fullness,” and his father’s, “umbrella.” In Ethiopia, children typically take their father’s first names as their last names, and often these names combine to mean something — in this case, the security of full cover.

Shop here.

Shop here.

While visiting the team in Ethiopia, I snagged a couple of styles hot off the line at a partner factory to shoot around Addis Ababa. However, I still needed the men to wear them. Enter, an Addis acquaintance Johnny and PeaceCorps pal Dave. They showed up in exactly what they had to wear and put up with my every whim.

First stop was a spot boasting temporary corrugated aluminum painted green and yellow, which is a common sight around the quickly expanding city. Second was a wonderful fruit stand — the staff there even turned on the lights for us and helped arrange the shoes. Third, we found a taxi driver willing to let us hang around his ride, a classic blue car always seen on the streets of Addis.

And of course, we ended back at the fruit stand, with some fresh juice and the chance to share the pictures we just shot. -Anna

(Styles featured here: Narivo brown/yellow pullup; Zimbo black/grey pullup; new summer style Mozam in tan nubuck.)

The new sole of Oliberté. Summer 2012 styles arrive tomorrow!

The new sole of Oliberté. Summer 2012 styles arrive tomorrow!

On site at Tikkur Abbay in Addis Ababa, via our Instagram. #Oliberte us, we want to see that style.

On site at Tikkur Abbay in Addis Ababa, via our Instagram. #Oliberte us, we want to see that style.

Be the first to know when our new styles, and more of the old favorites, hit our website shelves. Plus, deals, behind the scenes, you name it … sign up here.

Be the first to know when our new styles, and more of the old favorites, hit our website shelves. Plus, deals, behind the scenes, you name it … sign up here.

Love it when classy guys (and soon ladies) are caught rocking Oliberté. In this case, it’s Sean Woolsey, an artist recently featured in Cool Hunting. 

Love it when classy guys (and soon ladies) are caught rocking Oliberté. In this case, it’s Sean Woolsey, an artist recently featured in Cool Hunting. 

Are you a college student interested in getting Oliberté engaged with college campuses? Do you have crazy inspired ideas? We’re looking for a college outreach intern (loose term, unpaid, forever gratitude) over the summer to help us develop our campus involvement. This will be part time, and from home, but you’ll have a hand in defining the ways we reach and empower campuses. It’s a new move for us, and we’re stoked to see the ideas that flow. The internship will include: Brainstorming and proposing concepts on how Oliberté can engage the nationwide college population. Drafting an execution plan for one outreach concept. Starting the ball rolling for a Fall debut using this outreach concept. Managing and maximizing the college outreach team. Developing a contact list for schools and organizations around the nation Coming up with a college-specific Oliberté product. Weekly update Skype sessions with the Oliberté team and collaboration with one other intern. What you should know: We’re a for-profit, so fundraising is not an option. We’re also about pride and empowerment inAfrica, so no pity necessary. We like music, good fashion, business and innovation. As mentioned above, we’re also looking for students to be part of a campus outreach team, who will provide ideas and feedback and help execute a college debut in the fall semester of this year. To apply for the internship, email us your top idea and resume to info@oliberte.com. To join the outreach focus group, email us your best idea and let us know you’d like to take part in the movement. We will be accepting applications through May 18, 2012.

Are you a college student interested in getting Oliberté engaged with college campuses? Do you have crazy inspired ideas? We’re looking for a college outreach intern (loose term, unpaid, forever gratitude) over the summer to help us develop our campus involvement. This will be part time, and from home, but you’ll have a hand in defining the ways we reach and empower campuses. It’s a new move for us, and we’re stoked to see the ideas that flow.

The internship will include:

  • Brainstorming and proposing concepts on how Oliberté can engage the nationwide college population.
  • Drafting an execution plan for one outreach concept.
  • Starting the ball rolling for a Fall debut using this outreach concept.
  • Managing and maximizing the college outreach team.
  • Developing a contact list for schools and organizations around the nation
  • Coming up with a college-specific Oliberté product.
  • Weekly update Skype sessions with the Oliberté team and collaboration with one other intern.

What you should know: We’re a for-profit, so fundraising is not an option. We’re also about pride and empowerment inAfrica, so no pity necessary. We like music, good fashion, business and innovation.

As mentioned above, we’re also looking for students to be part of a campus outreach team, who will provide ideas and feedback and help execute a college debut in the fall semester of this year.

To apply for the internship, email us your top idea and resume to info@oliberte.com. To join the outreach focus group, email us your best idea and let us know you’d like to take part in the movement.

We will be accepting applications through May 18, 2012.

Meet Abebech. The lovely lady featured here works at partner factory Tikur Abbay in Addis Ababa and is one of dozens of folks integral to our soon-to-lauch Spring/Summer 2012. Her name means, in Amharic, “she flowered.” It fits — she’s always working and welcoming with a smile. Just one of the folks who have had a hand in the shoes on your feet!

Meet Abebech. The lovely lady featured here works at partner factory Tikur Abbay in Addis Ababa and is one of dozens of folks integral to our soon-to-lauch Spring/Summer 2012.

Her name means, in Amharic, “she flowered.” It fits — she’s always working and welcoming with a smile.

Just one of the folks who have had a hand in the shoes on your feet!

About two months ago, reporter Rick Westhead tagged along with Tal to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Oliberté’s shoes are made. There, they visited a partner factory and the home of patternmaker Abel. Today, this journey is chronicled as a cover story and two-page spread in the Toronto Star. Oliberté has not been an easy journey for anyone, from Tal to our managers in Addis. Westhead tells well the struggles that our brand (and founder) faces — but we’re glad that he also shares the incredible potential it holds. We’ll continue to keep everyone updated as our story continues, and are extremely grateful for ongoing support. Now, read up here.

About two months ago, reporter Rick Westhead tagged along with Tal to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where Oliberté’s shoes are made. There, they visited a partner factory and the home of patternmaker Abel. Today, this journey is chronicled as a cover story and two-page spread in the Toronto Star.

Oliberté has not been an easy journey for anyone, from Tal to our managers in Addis. Westhead tells well the struggles that our brand (and founder) faces — but we’re glad that he also shares the incredible potential it holds.

We’ll continue to keep everyone updated as our story continues, and are extremely grateful for ongoing support. Now, read up here.

Usually, we name each of our footwear styles for a place in Africa. However, for the debut of our Oliberté bags, we decided to do things a little differently. Each bag name, instead, is dedicated to a person who is integral to the bags’ creation and our company in general. YONA: Our Ethiopian production manager’s son, Yohanus EMANU: Our Ethiopian assistant manager’s son, Emmanuel DAGNA: One of our Ethiopian bag creators, Dagnachew TEME: Our other Ethiopian bag creator, Temesgen We can’t be more stoked to start branching out to new products, or more proud of the folks behind them. 

Usually, we name each of our footwear styles for a place in Africa. However, for the debut of our Oliberté bags, we decided to do things a little differently.

Each bag name, instead, is dedicated to a person who is integral to the bags’ creation and our company in general.

YONA: Our Ethiopian production manager’s son, Yohanus

EMANU: Our Ethiopian assistant manager’s son, Emmanuel

DAGNA: One of our Ethiopian bag creators, Dagnachew

TEME: Our other Ethiopian bag creator, Temesgen

We can’t be more stoked to start branching out to new products, or more proud of the folks behind them. 

It’s time for us to bone up and admit it: Oliberté is not vegan. OK, maybe you’ve already realized this. Leather is the main component of our kicks (and, soon, bags!), but it’s not only because leather is sexy, durable, and lasts ages. Our leather is sourced from farmers in Ethiopia. These animals that eventually become the leather in our shoes first function as livestock, making for milk, transportation, babies, and more, and rocking the free-range lifestyle. In fact, they live, on average, five to six years longer than domesticated livestock in developed countries, and receive no hormone injections. By buying this leather, we support local farming lifestyles and tanneries (which we make sure are processing the leather in as eco-friendly ways as possible). While we continue to look for other material sources in Africa to incorporate into our styles (and as an expansion of job-creating potential), livestock is a mainstay in Ethiopia. Instead of forcing a product, we’ve embraced the good origins we’ve already found. We’ve got high standards. And we’re glad to have you along.

It’s time for us to bone up and admit it: Oliberté is not vegan.

OK, maybe you’ve already realized this. Leather is the main component of our kicks (and, soon, bags!), but it’s not only because leather is sexy, durable, and lasts ages.

Our leather is sourced from farmers in Ethiopia. These animals that eventually become the leather in our shoes first function as livestock, making for milk, transportation, babies, and more, and rocking the free-range lifestyle. In fact, they live, on average, five to six years longer than domesticated livestock in developed countries, and receive no hormone injections.

By buying this leather, we support local farming lifestyles and tanneries (which we make sure are processing the leather in as eco-friendly ways as possible).

While we continue to look for other material sources in Africa to incorporate into our styles (and as an expansion of job-creating potential), livestock is a mainstay in Ethiopia. Instead of forcing a product, we’ve embraced the good origins we’ve already found.

We’ve got high standards. And we’re glad to have you along.