“We wanted to have a timeless shoe design that reflects that casual lifestyle,” says Matthew Pener, one of the co-founders of Native shoes.

He and a group of young Canadian designers came up with a pair of boots called the Fitzsimmons, made out of a rubbery material called EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). With the help of this material, they were able to produce a wide range of designs which are both durable and trendy. “It’s a combination of a classic-looking shoe we are all familiar with, and an innovative material,” adds Esme Smith, director of operations.

These hiking-style shoes caught the eye of the judges of the Red Dot Award in Germany, one of the most renowned international product competitions. A highly respected panel of experts picked the Fitzsimmons, which have been awarded the “red dot” seal of quality for high design.

Though boots may not be our cup of tea, especially in our Philippine heat, these young innovators said that thanks to its light material, it is still comfortable enough, even with the humidity. They even shared a couple of style tips: For guys, wear it with skinny jeans; and for girls, pairing it with chunky socks with shorts or jeans.

Native Fitzsimmons boots are exclusively distributed by Primer Group, with stores at Native Kiosk, Trinoma; R.O.X. (Bonifacio High Street and Cebu); Rustans (Alabang Town Center and Makati); Duty Free Philippines Sport mart; selected Shoe Salon, Res|Toe|Run and BratPack stores.