Dayna may be off having high tea in Singapore and riding elephants in Thailand, but Ped’s blog must go on! Laura, here, standing in for our fearless leader and bringing you great news: the latest shipment of Mia Zia loveliness has just arrived at Ped! Inspired by all things Moroccan, Mia Zia  is renowned for its way with tassels, stripes, and wonderfully woven textiles. Everything the company produces treasures is a delight to see and touch!

Here are a few of Mia Zia’s latest things that have everyone at Ped HQ swooning:

It’s as if Mia Zia took everything that’s good about summer and infused it into this fresh and playful Fiji scarf! The hand-printed stripes and tassels are so zesty! They make us want to kick up our heels and dance down the beach! (Maybe that’s what Dayna’s doing…)

MIa Zia’s crinkled silk scarf is luxurious and sophisticated without sacrificing its sense of fun. Silk is one of those wonderful fabrics that offers warmth in winter but remains airy and breathable in summer. Pretty as a scarf. Pretty as a shawl. Pretty as a sash wrapped around your waist!

Of all of Ped’s Mia Zia treasures, the Parisian Market basket, modeled on traditional baskets women take to bazaars throughout Morocco, may just be our favorite! This tightly woven raffia beauty is HUGE, which means it’s ideal for a day at the beach or a trip to the farmer’s market—or for catching everything you forgot to pack in your main suitcase when you’re bolting out the door to catch your plane. No matter what kind of a rush we’re in, those Mia Zia tassels never fail to make us smile!

So, why not add a little Moroccan spice to your life with Mia Zia?

Here at Ped HQ in Berkeley, Ca., we receive wonderful things from all over the world—Fiorentini + Baker boots from Italy, Trippen shoes from Germany, Antipast socks from Japan, and Cydwoq footwear and bags from down the California coast in Burbank (just to name a few). But after their brief sojourn here at Ped, we send these lovelies on their global way to points far and wide. It’s always fun for us to discover what countries are particularly fond of what lines.

For instance, in Australia and New Zealand—where autumn is currently on its way to winter—Ped fans can’t get enough of Fiorentini + Baker boots.

Meanwhile, all things Cydwoq are popular in France, Germany, and Switzerland.

Our Canadian friends love Jamie Joseph’s sparkle.

And in Japan, our customers are wild about Parisian Sophie Digard’s designs!

No matter where you are, Ped is ready to travel the world to bring you international style!

Ped fans, happy spring and have I got good news for you!! As I mentioned in my last post, Ped is extremely selective about the lines we carry. Whatever we bring you not only has to offer stellar style and comfort, it also has to meet Ped’s high standards for craftsmanship, ethical production, and environmental awareness. No easy feat! So, we are over the moon to add TWO new lines to Ped’s inner circle! Both are spectacular!

Pep Monjo, founder of Argila, studied design in Italy and collaborated with some of Europe’s most innovative footwear designers before returning to his hometown of Menorca, Spain, to found his own company. Made from the most beautiful handpicked leathers (you can practically feel the quality just by looking at the pictures), all of Argila’s shoes are crafted right in Menorca! And are they ever gorgeous!

I could live in Argila’s Ella sandal this spring and summer. There’s nothing better than a practical sandal that goes with everything in your closet and yet still shines with unique personality. 

Those of you who need or simply like a dressier look are also in luck. 

Argila’s Alana T-strap sizzles with clean-lined simplicity! Although it can pass for conservative, this heeled beauty will turn every head in the room! And the leather is cut and stitched just so (use the “zoom” at the site to see what I mean). 

Joining Argila in the Ped line-up are bags from San Francisco’s 49 Square Miles. Named for the area the city occupies, 49 Square Miles designs bags that capture the spirit of SF’s people and culture. So, you know they’re colorful and cutting-edge! Plus, they’re handcrafted from the most deliciously touchable leather you can imagine. I mean, really—everyone at Ped HQ is swooning over how these bags feel!

This Bookworm Slim Tote is flat-out irresistible! Between the color and the details (I am especially smitten by those organic brass rings) and the fact that it can hold everything you could possibly need, what’s not to love?

Then there’s the Crossbody Sling:

Could anything be fresher for spring than this grab-it-and-go bag with its eye-catching color and top-stitching? At Ped, we love it when function comes with big ol’ jolt of ‘zazz!

So, hop on over to the site and have a drool over both Argila and 49 Square Miles. They are worthy!

At Ped, we enjoy it when a secret surprise or an unexpected discovery–as long as it’s good–livens up our day, and we’ve been thinking about how to pass that experience on to Ped fans. One day, while brainstorming, we came up with the “sweet treat”! Look up to the left. See “be sweet to your feet”? Mouse over it, and it will change to “sweet treat”! Click it, and you’ll be whisked to an item that’s instantly 20% off when you enter “sweet treat” at checkout (the box is on the last page). The special will change weekly, and the only way to reach it is by clicking through “sweet treat,” which is to say if you navigate to the shoe (or scarf or bag) the normal way, you’ll miss its treat-ness! Fun, eh? And if there’s something you’d love to see become a “sweet treat,” just let us know by e-mail.

We also know many Ped heads are addicted to Orla Kiely, so we thought we’d celebrate the holidays early by offering 20% off all our Orla stock (yes, the sale items, too!) when you enter “Orla@Ped” at checkout. Pretty cool!

There are a couple Orla Kiely items I want to make sure you know about because they are extra special! First, this Small Stem Tote is just too cute in person. It seems quite perfunctory (and it is practical!) until you start carrying it, at which point it simply starts looking great! At the photo shoot, all of us were gushing about how the tote was really much, much cuter than we’d thought when we first got in the Orla Kiely stock. It’s now our favorite!

Another bag that deserves a second look is Orla’s gorgeous Handstitched Leather Sling. Not only is the tangerine color to die for (our orange-loving friend Laura is head over heels for this bag), but the leather stitch work is so unusual. This sling will definitely brighten up the grey, wintry days ahead, but it will also look juicy once its warm again!

Here at Ped, we hope all your treats during the upcoming holiday season are very sweet! We definitely give thanks for you!

With all that walking around Paris, I couldn’t believe that my feet didn’t hurt!! Of course, I wore my trusted Cydwoqs and Trippens (cool with funky socks if it’s cold). I never go on a vacation without one or two pairs. Trust me!! I walk ALOT. Also, be sure to wear a bag across your body – my Orla Kiely came in very handy for my tour guidebook, map, water, wallet, and big enough for some purchases !