red espadrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
red espadrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles

(UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrilles
$80.00 Save $-80.00
24 in stock

By far the best shoe we’ve ever made. The only shoe we’ve ever made.  Now in partnership with (RED)...

Versatile, casual, and comfortable, the Afridrilles are constructed from top quality materials with a dash of Kenyan flair. And while every pair of shoes we make empowers the women who make them, our (UBUNTU LIFE)RED really stand out for one important reason: These shoes save lives. 20% of each sale goes to the Global Fund to support their fight against HIV and AIDS.

  • Handmade in Maai Mahiu, Kenya
  • Materials: Kenyan canvas, genuine Kenyan nubuck leather, traditional jute soles with vulcanized rubber for durability
  • Sizing: True to size. Not available in wide sizes.
  • Currently ONLY available in Men's sizing.
  • Every product supports meaningful, full-time employment in Kenya, AND contributes to the fight against HIV and AIDS

 

The perfect handmade shoe.
Now saving lives.

.Every pair of Afridrilles empowers the women who make them in our studio in Kenya, but (UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrille is extra special: These shoes save lives.

We’re launching the (UBUNTU LIFE)RED Afridrille in collaboration with (RED) to fight AIDS. Twenty percent of the retail price from these shoes will go to the Global Fund to fight AIDS with (RED) — enough to provide 95 days of life-saving HIV medication. Find out more.

In Maai Mahiu, where we make the Afridrille, we’ve seen firsthand the impact of AIDS on the community. Maai Mahiu is a transit hub on the highway connecting Uganda to the coast and has some of the highest rates of HIV in Kenya.

Since 2000, the number of children born each day with HIV has fallen by nearly two-thirds, thanks to effective treatment and global investments in health care. Thanks to the work of the Global Fund and (RED)’s partners, the world continues to make incredible progress in the fight against AIDS—but we can’t stop now. You can help with your (UBUNTU)RED Afridrilles. Together, we can end AIDS.

Life in Every Stitch

Every pair of (RED) Afridrilles is measured, cut, embossed, sewn, ironed, reversed, sewn some more, pinned, hand-woven, stretched, beaded, cleaned, and inspected by our Maker Mums.

We take great pride in the jobs that we are creating for our Maker Mums. These women have risen from the margins of society to become some of their communities most empowered citizens. When you purchase these products you are participating directly in the lives of these women and joining us as we continue to thread the needle of sustainable change in Maai Mahiu, Kenya.

The Afridrille provides quality jobs to empowered women in Kenya.

The World's Most Powerful Shoe

The Canvas

We tested every canvas we could get our hands on to find a fabric with the right combination of durability and comfort — not too stiff, but not too stretchy. The winner? A Kenyan canvas made in a plant owned by three sisters with an exceptional commitment to their workers.

Made from 100% East African cotton, you can walk happily knowing your shoes support Kenyan farmers, too.

36° East

Maai Mahiu is located at 1° South, 36° East. We embed that angle into each pair of shoes in the slant of the vamp and the diagonal in our beaded tabs so that our customers are reminded where their shoes are made and by whom.

All Heart

...and Sole

Ubuntu is all about connection, which is why we put a map of the world on our soles. These soles were made for us by a family-owned company in Murcia, Spain, where espadrilles have been made by hand for generations.

With a vulcanized rubber lining and a jute rope core, our soles are as durable as they are beautiful.

Hand-Printed Lining

Kenyan fashion is all about patterns and colors. Subtlety isn’t normally our thing. These shoes though? They wear their Kenyan pride on the inside.

Our Afridrilles are lined with a soft, breathable cotton fabric to help them stay dry and comfortable all day long. Each lining is printed by hand with our Ubuntu tribal pattern, so you’ll never forget where they came from.

Custom Afridrilles!

We've partnered with Zazzle to enable you to design your own pair of Afridrilles!  Choose from dozens of patterns, colors and linings to make a one-of-a-kind pair: Custom Espadrilles

Customize Your Afridrilles