Footwear Plus

No one can accuse the Irish of taking themselves too seriously. We excel at poking fun at ourselves and we do so with a soupcon of self-deprecating humor and wit. But as an Irish American who lived 19 years of my life in Ireland, I am truly offended by the way the U.S. celebrates St Patrick's Day and views Irish culture in general. It's insulting. Our national holiday is not about celebrating our country's supposed drinking culture; it celebrates our patron saint, the man who brought Christianity to Ireland.

Florsheim debuts a line for the mini-gentleman in every womans life.

THE OLD SAYING, My fathers Florsheims, may soon be adding and my sons too to the phrase that has come to signify the brands standing among men. Florsheim, the 120-year-old classic shoemaker, is sizing down its high- quality craftsmanship into a boys collection for Fall 12.

Thats Gary Weiner (at right, No. 10), president of Saxon Shoes in Richmond, VA, getting ready to run in the first-ever Saxon Shoes High Heel Dash in support of the Susan G. Komen Foundation and its effort to raise funds and awareness in its fight against breast cancer.

TALK ABOUT GETTING an early start: Calleen Cordero, the designer behind the eponymous line, began her career in the footwear industry at age 15 as an assistant buyer at a high-end Los Angeles-based boutique. By age 16, she was hired as a merchandiser for Sam Edelman.

Skechers is going for gold - literally - at the Olympic Games in London with its GOrun minimalist running shoe. Featuring mid-foot strike technology and a 4mm heel drop which brings the runner 66 precent closer to the ground than traditional athletic footwear, limited edition colorways of red, white and navy will hit stores in July and retail for $80. Team USA member Meb Keflezighi, who set a personal best at the marathon trials in Houston while wearing the ultra-lightweight sneaker, will compete in a custom pair at the Games this summer. 

Chooka Street stretches beyond its rubber roots.

Footwear Plus has been nominated for a medal in design by the Society of Publication Designers (SPD) for its December 2011 fashion story, Hot Lunch. The magazine stands in good company as other nominees in the Feature, Fashion/Beauty category include GQ and Real Simple magazines.

Back by popular demand, FFANY is bringing back the Art of Traditional Shoemaking workshop in partnership with the Ars Sutorial School. The five-day workshop is scheduled for this July 16-20 at the H.H. Brown showroom in New York located at 1441 Broadway, 14th floor. Tuition is $2,500 per attendee. Enrollment is based on a first come, first serve basis.

ETNIES IS EXPANDING its Buy A Shoe, Plant a Tree initiative by teaming up with leading nonprofit Trees for the Future in an effort to reverse Brazils deforestation. Through this one- for-one program, the skate shoe company will plant a tree in So Paulos Atlantic Rainforest for every purchase of its Jameson 2 and Jameson 2 Eco mens and kids styles and girls Caprice Eco and Circe Eco shoes.

Last week New Yorkers packed into Sperry Top-Sider's first ever stand-along store in Manhattan for a Beach House Warming Party and despite the cold weather outside, khakis and Nantucket Reds were abound. Guests snacked on minature lobster rolls and perused some of spring's finest styles, including rose gold A/Os and tropical espadrilles from the brand's collaboration with Milly.

The party coincided with Sperry's beach clean up initiative with United by Blue. For every sale at the opening party, one pound of garbage will be cleaned up from Bottle Beach in Brooklyn on April 14th.