Warm, beautiful, and an iconic part of Canadian heritage - all words used to describe traditional aboriginal footwear. But these timeless traditional boots have made their way onto the runways and shoe closets of fashionistas around the world. Entrepreneurs Heather McCormick and Marileen Bartlett, daughter and mother business team, are proud to be on the front lines with their new online store Muks & Mocs. Formerly known as Canadian Made Mukluks, the duo's new store is bringing their cultural tradition into the 2012/2013 winter fashion season. The company launched a brand new website (check out their latest mukluks and moccasins here) this month on the popular e-commerce platform Shopify.
Muks & Mocs carries a wide variety of mukluks, moccasins, leather handbags, pouches and mitts. They also feature the popular brand of boots/shoes, Manitobah Mukluks. The boots feature supple leather, lush suede, and soft fur materials, as well as intricate traditional beading and design. There's more to these one-of-a-kind boots than just their aesthetic, though. These boots were originally worn to protect Canada's native people from the harsh and unforgiving climate of the North. And the mother-daughter team take their tradition seriously.
"The creation of a Canadian-made Mukluk is so much more than fashion, it is an art form of our ancestors that has spanned many thousands of years. North American Indian tribes pride themselves in the rich history of their culture and heritage. We believe strongly that our traditions and culture must be of the highest standards when shown to the world," says McCormick.
And while moccasin and mukluk-style boots are timelessly beautiful, they're also particularly in fashion this season. Last year's bohemian styles continue to appear all over, from L.A. to ski resorts, and even runways. Tribal prints mesh perfectly with this fall's moody hues, chunky knits, and clean-lined pants. Brown moccasins, paired with burgundy skinny jeans and a cozy sweater, look especially on point. The budding woman-entrepreneur team hopes they can share their culture with the mainstream, while preserving their traditions.
Muks & Mocs is based in Winnipeg, Canada but sells their handmade products around the world. In addition to carrying traditionally made footwear for men, women, children, and babies, Muks & Mocs also carries mittens, gauntlets (long mittens that go up the arm), and slippers. To learn more about mukluks and moccasins visit their site or view their latest products at http://www.muksandmocs.com/collections/all
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