Melissa shoes leave a small footprint

Plastic shoes? If those two words conjure up images of discount shoe shops, think again. Brazilian-made Melissa shoes are funky and fashionable. Even better, the socially responsible company employs sustainable practices and pays employees above-average wages and benefits. The shoes themselves are made from recycled materials — even last year's leftover shoes. The factory recycles 99.9 percent of waste and water used in production. For the full story and lots of stats (the company has produced 50 million pairs of shoes in the last 25 years), visit Melissa's Web site. You'll find these plastic fantastics at Clementine in West Seattle.

At the factory, big balls of plastic are formed into flats, wedges and low heels, and interestingly enough (or oddly enough), the shoes all smell like tutti-frutti. The vintage-inspired black-and-white polka-dot style has been so popular that Clementine owner Linda Walsh is ordering more. Other styles include peep toes and cream-colored three-inch wedges with ankle straps. Prices range from $46 to $59.

Whether you purchase a pair of Melissa shoes because you're green, a vegetarian or just like the funk factor, you'll be keeping plastic out of landfills. And making a fashion statement at the same time.

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