MANILA, Philippines - Yosi Samra is a shoe designer and was, briefly, an NYC club bouncer — and you know what goes down at clubs anywhere in the world. People party, drink, and wobble their way home. This experience gave Samra an idea, finding a unique market in women who like to keep their dignity intact after 2 a.m. He created Yosi Samra the label and designed foldable ballet flats (4.5” x 3” folded) that would fit in any purse, even a reasonably sized clutch. Soon enough, women embraced the idea that it’s smart to carry flats in one’s handbag, for those times when running in heels just wouldn’t do. Here are five times you might find yourself thanking Yosi and his club scene epiphany:
• You have a night event, but you don’t want to wear heels to Bills Payment. Not everybody has a PA to delegate unwanted chores to. Women today lead very active lives — perhaps you included. You have a fancy event to attend at 6 p.m., but you don’t want to look overdressed (and heavily blistered) the rest of the day.
• You run into your crush, and you realize he’s merely a mini Kit Harington. You follow him religiously on Instagram and he seems of average height — but when you see him in person, you feel like Brienne of Tarth in your heels. The solution? Whip out your Yosi Samra flats. Sure, height doesn’t matter, but if wearing flats will make you feel more confident, by all means, do it.
• You can’t decide what to wear. Animal print seems too flashy. Nude feels so blah. Metallics are too hip. And, ah yes, you are running late and Uber is not cooperating. Just take them all. They should all fit in your bag anyway.
• You are traveling to a temple (or a cat café) and you don’t want to leave your shoes outside. Okay, this is a bit of a stretch, but trust me, it happens. For some reason, having to leave your shoes outside can be a very stressful experience. What if someone takes it? You will have to walk home barefoot. But if you’re wearing foldable flats, you can just throw them in your bag. Problem solved.
• You plan on staying out late, but don’t have a ride home. This is the kind of scenario that Yosi Samra must’ve kept witnessing as a bouncer. When half your senses aren’t working right, it’s a struggle to maintain equilibrium, so it would be best to change to flats. Also, in case there is an emergency, you’d be more agile — unless you are Bryce Dallas Howard in Jurassic Park.
Yosi Samra, the pioneer New York City brand behind the fold-up ballet flats, recently launched its fall/winter collection with 20 new designs. The newest line puts the spotlight on Yosi Samra staples made of genuine leather and suede done in neutrals, plus a few bolder choices in various prints and textures. Sarah Jessica Parker, Charlize Theron and Reese Witherspoon, to name a few, are fans of the brand.
* * *
In the Philippines, Yosi Samra is exclusively distributed by Green Tee, Inc. It has 13 branches, including the ones in Cagayan de Oro, Bacolod and Iloilo. For information, like YosiSamraPhilippines on Facebook and follow @yosisamra.ph on Instagram.