When Susan Bell's father-in-law brought back a pair of warm, adorable slippers from Mongolia five years ago for her young son Satchel, she was instantly smitten. But when Satchel grew out of them, though she searched high and low stateside for a replacement, she could never find quite the right pair.
So the enterprising Seattle mom started her own company, importing colorful slippers that are designed, felted, dyed and assembled by a cooperative of Mongolian artisans.
A year and a half ago, Bell launched Satch & Sol [1], a collection that includes felted slippers, purses, hats, mittens, tiny animal ornaments, ponytail holders, and traditional suede and leather boots called Buriats. Her online boutique launched this past August to warm the toes of kiddos everywhere.
The slippers start at $36 and come in whole sizes from an infant 3 to a woman's 7-8, in many styles and colors. They're all thick, soft and breathable, with dark brown or black suede soles that lend durability.
I bought a pair of orange-and-pink Flower Cut slippers for my little girl, and it just kills me every time she puts them on. She's careful to tuck her pants into the fluted petal tops, so she can still see the flowers (so she explains to me). The kid's only two, but she's very particular about her slippers.
Other styles include high-top moccasins, with or without contrast stitching along the edges; Hitch & Tie, which lace up the side or have a toggle-like closure; Missy's, with a long tail on the back, making them easy to pull on; and a menagerie of adorable insect and animal options such as bumblebees, butterflies, ladybugs and doggies.
My other favorite in the Satch & Sol lineup are the Buriat boots ($54), which feature hand embroidery on thick leather or suede, sturdy rubber soles and warm woolen felt inside. They remind me of Mongolian cowboy boots, but are insulated for cold and wet climates.
Satch & Sol slippers are available online at satchsol.com [2] and at The Little House [2] on Vashon Island.
If you have a shop, sale, event or great product tip you'd like to share, e-mail seattleshopping@nwsource.com.
Copyright © 2009 The Seattle Times Company
