Marikina-Based POSH Pocket Shoes Packs Comfort + Style in Every Pair

(SPOT.ph) Wearing heels for long hours hurts, and enduring the agony through a commute just makes it worse. For women, it's a story as old as time (or at least, as old as when heels were invented). Nadine de Guzman-Lansangan knew this, and in 2010 she decided that having a spare pair of slippers to switch her heels out after work wasn't cutting it anymore. The slippers provided much-needed respite for her feet, but it ruined her OOTD. So what's a girl to do? Why, start a shoe brand, of course. Enter: POSH Pocket Shoes.

Fed up with pricey heels that left her feet in a sorry state at the end of the day, Nadine and her then-boyfriend-and-now-husband Pao Lansangan worked together to create versatile and comfortable shoes that could be worn at work and in more casual settings—and, getting inspiration from her earlier emergency slipper solution—also made sure they were foldable, so that you could store them in nifty pouches that don't take up too much space in your bag.

POSH Pocket Shoes quickly became known for these features, and now, more than 20 years in, the brand has continued to evolve with their customers' needs. They no longer make the OG foldable shoes that put their brand on the map, but anyone who owns POSH Pocket Shoes can vouch that the pairs remain multi-purpose, portable, and most of all, easy on the feet.

Also read: Of Leather and Wood: How These Artisans Are Keeping Marikina's Shoe Industry Alive

Nowadays, POSH Pocket Shoes has found a home in—well, a residential house along Kapwa Street in Marikina, but it hasn't always had a brick-and-mortar presence. In 2010, before we all learned to trust e-commerce sites or even knew to add products to our digital carts, POSH Pocket Shoes started purely online: on Facebook and Multiply, no less. Nadine and Pao used to hand-deliver their foot-ware, hauling suitcases filled with shoes and making one appointment after another to meet customers. When they weren't making rounds in the Metro with their products, they filled their schedules with bazaars.

With the business, the shoes also changed over the years. The original products, which were made with synthetic leather that made it possible for the shoes to be folded without them developing creases, have been given a makeover. The Lansangans found that while it was a plus for customers to be able to fold the shoes, it wasn't the main selling point; it was hose the shoes were able to complete a wider variety of looks—from more formal affairs to casual get-togethers, POSH Pocket Shoes were able to keep up with their customers' multi-faceted lives.

With this in mind, the Lansangans upgraded POSH Pocket Shoes' base material: now, the shoes are made with real cowhide leather, which is more durable. They still come with the zippered pouches, though, because while they don't recommend folding the shoes anymore, Nadine and Pao know that portability is still important to their customers, and the shoes are still compact enough that they won't take up too much space in your luggage. Of course, it goes without saying but we'll say it anyway—POSH Pocket Shoes are made with so much care and attention because they're not just meant to be aesthetically pleasing; their versatility and portability would be rendered useless if they weren't comfortable to wear. And trust: they are.

If you're new to the brand and don't know where to start your POSH journey, let us direct you to one of their most iconic styles: the Erin (P2,990). At first glance, Erin is a familiar silhouette that seems straight out of your school days. But just as you've leveled and glowed up, so has this pair: it's now crafted with 100% genuine cow leather that will suit your big girl job's needs. It's lightweight and fully padded with their signature pillowly soft insoles. You'd want to wear them everyday—and that's with or without strict uniform rules.

New Day (P3,190) is Nadine Lansangan's favorite pair, and it's got a minimalist style that's easy to match with almost any outfit. It's what the Nadine of 16 years ago would have loved to wear to work every day. New Day is for women who prefer a more understated look; it's simple, elegant, and gets the job done. It's a sophisticated slip-on that epitomizes everything that POSH Pocket Shoes stands for: easy to put on or kick off, and it also ensures all-day comfort with the brand's signature double-padded insoles built in.

If we could pick a favorite, it would be Gianna (P2,990). It's POSH's version of a Mary Jane flat, but instead of a strap that fastens on the side, it comes with laces you can tie into a delicate bow to add a bit of whimsy to your outfit. Gianna is made with genuine cowhide leather on the upper and lined with pigskin leather, and comes in black, white, and tan.

Another timeless classic that they've put their own spin on is the Penny Loafers (P3,250). It's crafted from buttery-soft, pebbled genuine leather, and in a bit of a deviation from POSH's line of solid-colored pairs, the Penny Loafers have a flashier feel to them with their two-tone style. The insoles are also padded, ensuring comfort whether you've got long walks ahead or are expecting to be on your feet for long hours.

Currently, all styles are available for pre-order online through their website. Since POSH Pocket Shoes are handcrafted with care and intention by their in-house team of artisans, give them around three or four weeks to make.

POSH Pocket Shoes is available online via their website. For more information and updates, check out POSH Pocket Shoes' Facebook and Instagram pages.