US-made women’s footwear brand Oka-B recently introduced its Spring-Summer collection of sandals, ballet flats, sling-backs and slip-on wedges in time for its formal launch in the Philippines.

Exclusively distributed by Stores Specialists Inc., Oka-B had a soft launch in the Philippines in 2007. It’s one of the few remaining footwear brands designed and manufactured in the US.

From a single style dubbed Chloe, the brand now offers 10 styles with such names as Nelly, Lucky, Cokie, Georgina, Jackie, Parker, McKenzie and Colette.

Made of waterproof, antibacterial and recyclable plastic, each pair comes with the brand’s signature footbed with reflexology-inspired massage beads.

“The brand has been around since 2005,” said Jackie Barnett, Oka-B’s director of international sales, during a recent event in Manila. “Since we introduced it here in 2007, the market

has grown.”

Brighter shades

Most Filipino women go for brighter shades. Some, like their American counterparts, are drawn to bling. They also find the footwear ideal for the country’s year-round warm weather.

Each pair of Oka-B footwear costs about P2,250. The global market is essential to Oka-B’s growth, since half of what the company produces in its Buford, Georgia, factory (45-minute drive from Atlanta) is sold abroad, particularly in Asia, Latin America and Africa.

Apart from subtle variations in shapes, each style comes with embellishments bearing different inspirations—from nautical to punk light, retro to futuristic, glitzy Las Vegas to rustic Arizona.

The collection is really one happy marriage between preppy and bohemian elements.

Even Oka-B’s color palette is equally creative with such yummy and refreshing shades as guava, licorice, mint, lilac, watermelon, poppy, crème, latté, kiwi, cherry, grass green and mist.

Sweat-proof and slip-resistant, Oka-B also appeals to women looking for durable and comfortable footwear. What’s more, each pair is said to promote good posture and spinal alignment.

The brand also has a subdued non-embellished collection called Essentials. But unlike certain brands, it doesn’t give customers the option to decorate their Oka-B footwear with stick-on

embellishments.

“All our accessories are grommeted on with a steel rivet machine to ensure consistent quality and to make them more durable and long-lasting,” said Barnett.

“We’re very lucky,” she said. “Because of the proprietary materials that we use, particularly a recyclable plastic called Microplast, no one has been able to duplicate our footwear yet.”

For a complete list of Oka-B outlets in the Philippines, visit Oka-B Philippines’ Facebook page.