Naot Gives Back


Try one, give one, during our Give Back event with Naot Footwear!

 This month, from October 7th through October 11th, we are partnering with Naot for a Give Back event to show some love to our local community. For each person who tries on a pair of Naots, one pair will be donated to the Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center. For each pair that is purchased, and additional pair will be donated. Read on to learn about Walnut Avenue and the Naot #GivesBack program, and check out some of our favorite Naot styles.

 

Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center

For more than 85 years, Walnut Avenue Family & Women's Center has helped individuals and families lead healthy, happy and productive lives. Founded as the YWCA in 1933 and renamed in 1994 to highlight their dedication to serving entire families, Walnut Avenue has taken residence in the blue house at 303 Walnut Ave. since 1944.

Built in 1928 by Salvator and Frances Fachutar, the house was created as a combination home and music studio, and quickly became known as the largest music house between San Fransisco and Los Angeles. In 1944, the Fachutars sold the house to the Santa Cruz YWCA, and the Y Women including, Mrs. Fred McPherson, Edith Hinds, Mabel Byrne and Bertha Adams, laid the foundation for 50 years of service to the Santa Cruz Community. These women created many programs and spaces for members of the community, including “Club 303” (a night club for teens), the Gay Troubadours (the first all boys club sponsored by a YWCA), and multiple programs for women and girls of all races and cultures.

Today, Walnut Avenue continues to support the Santa Cruz Community with service providing programs including Early Education Center, Services for Children & Youth, Services for Survivors of Domestic Violence, Family Support Services, and Community Engagement. Many of the families participating in Walnut Avenue programs are from under-served populations due to poverty, early pregnancy, homelessness, and/or domestic violence.

 Their core values of Empowerment, Equity, Integrity, Safety, and Prevention & Education shine through in the programs they create, and the individuals they create these programs for, and we are honored to work alongside them to support the members of our community.

Why Naot?

Naot is dedicated to giving back, and partners with stores the brand works with to support their local communities. Give Back events have allowed Naot to donate shoes to women's centers, natural disasters victims, survivors of domestic violence, and people re-entering society after facing homelessness. We and Naot firmly believe in the positive power of good footwear, and are honored and humbled to be able to provide individuals with that special boost that comes from a new pair of shoes.

 "A shoe of Peace. I told them, its a shoe of Peace. When we sit down together, we are family. We don't care what religion a person is. We've had a good interaction between two human beings"

Marish, East Jerusalem

Naot calls their shoes "shoes of Peace", as each pair is a product of collaboration, created from the combined efforts of Naot's inclusive and diverse family of employees from different religious, ethnic, and racial backgrounds. Naot shoes are made by hand on a living wage through ethical manufacturing and sustainable methods on a farm in Northern Israel. Use of renewable resources, such as the famous cork insole, vegetable tanning, and refrain from dumping in rivers allow for footwear production with the environment in mind. And by wearing products that are made to last, there is less waste created over time.

 

Preview Our Favorites

1. Wander

Classic and easy to wear, the Wander boot is the perfect shoe to take you from early autumn straight through the winter. A distressed suede upper keeps things casual, while the 1.75 inch block heel will elevate any outfit, making this the perfect everyday boot to keep you stylish and comfortable all day long.

2. Business

Sleek and stylish, the Business boot is a classic silhouette, given a modern edge with contrast leathers and visible stitched detailing. Taken easily from the office to dinner, this low profile Chelsea boot hits right at the ankle and sports elastic panels on both sides for easy entry. 

3. Kayla

A Naot classic, this is the perfect wear-everywhere sandal. The cork footbed molds to your foot with wear, so each step gets more and more comfortable. As an ideal travel sandal, the Kayla goes with everything, and has the arch support to go the distance.

4. Chief

A classic dress shoe, the Chief lace up features a supple nubuck leather with a contrast full grain heel cap. Each pair is made with a hand-sewn Strobel construction, making them both durable and extremely flexible, for all day comfort. With a clean look that goes with everything, this will be your new go-to business shoe.

5. Nefasi
An oxford-inspired ankle boot gets a modern twist with the Nefasi bootie. Comfortable, supportive, and stylish, this boot will be a fast favorite in your fall shoe wardrobe. Perforated detailing along the heel cap, toe cap, and ankle give this boot a unique touch, while remaining understated and simple enough to wear with anything.
6. General
The perfect wear everywhere shoe, the General ankle boot is a wardrobe staple. Dress it up for the office, or down for a night out, and know that you'll stay comfortable with the anatomical cork footbed. Inner and exterior zippers elevate the look, for an elegant and stylish boot that will take you where ever you need to go.
7. Terehu
The Terehu is a slip on shoe with a unique, contrasting design. Super smooth leather meets fashionable, ruched nubuck to make this style an edgy classic. Dual side gore make this style easy to slip on/off so you can be out and about in no time!
8. Dorith


Dainty and feminine, the Dorith takes comfort sandals to the next level. In a gladiator-inspired silhouette, this easy to wear sandal adds a little something extra to any outfit. Pair with a dress or skirt for an elevated look, or keep it casual with some raw-edge denim.