VANCOUVER TRENDZ [THURSDAY]

Must Give Us Pause

March 20, 2008

If you said: “Hey, I’m looking for a pair of shoes that come in a box that doubles as a sunflower planter. Oh, and by the way, I’d like to be able to compost those shoes once I’m done with them. Can you help me out?” most people would look at you as if they’d discovered a new and interesting species of insect.

However, if you directed your query to the creative geniuses at Po-Zu, they would just smile and point to their Earth-friendly line of funky sandals and slip-on booties made of hemp and veggie-tanned leather that are, yes, biodegradable and, yes, whose box can be used to grow sunflowers (heck - they even throw in the seeds!)

“Po-Zu” means “pause” in Japanese, and these innovative shoemakers did just that - paused for a moment and pondered on the size of footprint a pair of shoes leaves on our precious planet. But not these. So go ahead - indulge your footwear fetish, grow a few sunflowers, and once you’ve finally worn holes in your Po-Zus, toss them on the compost heap so the worms can love them, too.

Try ‘em on for size at Holt Refrew, Pacific Centre.

For a Modal place to stay see yesterday's Brand New. Have you entered this week's Contest yet? You could win four tickets to The Vancouver International Children's Festival and a  CD.