THE POOR COUTURE: Osborn Shoes: Where Fashion Meets Philanthropy

Over Thanksgiving, I was introduced to a company that I hadn't heard of before: Osborn Shoes. After finding out more about the company, and spending a little too much time perusing through the products on their website, I thought that I'd dedicate a post to them so that more people can find out about their inspiring work and impressive (and stylish!) commodities. Osborn Shoes is a company that has vertically integrated manufacturing-- which means, among many other things, that they don't use sweat-shops. It was established in 2009, and offers handmade footwear: oxfords, booties, and even one-of-a-kind pieces. Here's their story:

"Co-founder Aaron Osborn, whose family runs one of the largest orphanages in Guatemala, stumbled upon the idea for Osborn in 2007 when he met an out-of-work cobbler while doing charitable work in the country. He and co-founder, Carla Venticinque, were searching for a way to combine their artistic backgrounds with their desire to uplift their adopted homeland. This search led to Osborn Shoes. That first cobbler still works with them full time, as do a small driven team of 20 other gifted artisans. Nestled in the volcanic mountains outside Guatemala City, these artisans craft shoes in a time honored old-world manufacturing environment dedicated to integrity and quality."

It's encouraging to see that, despite the presence of immense competition in the marketplace, there is still a company out there who's trying to make a difference-- not just money. As wonderful as all that is, it gets even better: the shoes are fashion-forward, unique, and effortlessly trendy. At Osborn Shoes, your money will go further than just buying you a new pair of shoes. Look good and feel good, that's a double whammy!

Be sure to check out their teaser video for their lookbook and music video here, and if you like what you see, stay tuned, because they're about to add heels to their Spring collection!

Here's a selection of their shoes for any style:

If you're eclectic...