Do-Ni shoes are first and foremost, beautiful, stylish, vegan AND ecological.  The first collection of Do-Ni Nobilia ballerinas are made from the best leather-free materials from Italy, glues are water based (and animal-free), pre-consumer recycled components are used help the planet breathe a little easier.  

With the direct sale of Do-Ni is shoes, 100% of retail proceeds are donated to participating non-profit organizations, where the buyer can select which NPO to give. Do-Ni is a for-profit business that donates retail proceeds. DoNi means gifts in Italian.

The traditional sales distribution goes from a wholesaler(say Do-Ni) to retailer(say Macy's), with at least 100% markup.  By being the wholesaler AND direct on-line retailer, Do-Ni has chosen to route the retail profit to participating non-profits. With a lower markup, Do-Ni is able to offer a premium European product at a very competitive price (who can’t use a little savings these days?), and still offer the participating non-profits a very generous donation, way beyond the industry standard of 2-5%.  This is a model that is sustainable, win-win for everyone, and we believe is the beginning of a new and positive trend in retailing. *

We are focused on solving the issues facing the world today, while offering an excellent alternative to traditional leather shoes to the growing conscious consumers like yourself.  

By selecting conscientiously what you buy, you are voting with your wallet, supporting businesses that foster sustainable production cycles while exercises social responsibility.

*similar to Gap’s RED project to help fight HIV in Africa.

ABOUT US

Nancy Dong - Ecopreneur / Designer
The Do of the Do-Ni is Nancy Dong.  She is an accomplished designer with over 20 years of experience, both in fashion and footwear.
 
Nancy studied footwear design at AFPIC (Association Pour la Formation Professionelle aux Industries du Cuir) in Paris.  Having honed her skills both in Europe and the USA such as BCBG-Max Azria, Ermenegildo Zegna, Levi Strauss & Co. and Isda and Co., Nancy possesses a refined aesthetic sensibility with a keen awareness of the heavy impact of making "things".

Inspired by Katharine Hamnett, the mother of Eco-Fashion, she realized in the late 90's the only viable career direction is to move towards a more sustainable route, because the typical production of even a simple cotton T-shirt  uses 0.3 pounds of pesticide, let alone a pair of shoes made from conventional materials.  So much of the goods in the stores today leaves a damaging heavy footprint on Mother Earth, as well as the true HIGH COST of labor exploitation in third-world countries.

Leather was THE material of choice when it came to fine footwear.  Having always designed  high-end footwear made in Italy, there seemed to be no reasonable alternative back in 2000, when she became a vegetarian.  The tanning process of leather is highly toxic, and using animal skins is no longer an option; she became involved with Shoes With Souls, a start-up company making vegan footwear, which led her down the path of sourcing for high quality, eco-friendly alternatives to leather.

A few years later, Nancy helped launch Charmone Shoes with her clean and original designs, garnered the attention of  vegetarian actresses such as Natalie Portman, Zooey Deschanel, and other celebrities.  That was the necessary validation to encourage Nancy to strike out on her own.

In march of 2008, Kailia Footwear was born.  It is a high end eco- stylish luxury line that is to compete with the Manolos and Pradas. Handmade in Italy in the same exacting quality as other designer brands, Kailia Footwear is distributed in both fashion and eco-boutiques in Europe and recently launched in the USA. 

In April 2008, Nancy met a fellow vegetarian shoe designer Carlotta in Bologna, Italy, where they both live, were inspired to launch a sister line that is designed to be a fund-raiser for non-profits.  Both designers have their own signature collections www.kailiafootwear.com and www.carlottafiorini.com, but felt that they wish to collaborate on something more meaningful.  

Fueled by an insistent desire to BE a part of the solution, the idea came to Nancy during meditation to fuse sustainable compassionate business with philanthropy.  Being a socially responsible Ecopreneur while continuing to design beautiful shoes, Do-Ni Gift of Love was conceived.

Nancy is happy that she has found this project which fulfills her life' s mission- to create beauty while making a positive impact in the world.
 
Carlotta Fiorini - Co-Founder / Designer
The Ni of the Do-Ni is Carlotta Fiorini.  A native of  Italy, she has graced her presence at such venerable labels such as Gucci, Casadei, Bruno Magli, Diego Dolcini & Levi's.   A long time vegetarian of over 20 years, she is one of the pioneers in the vegan shoe arena in Italy. 

Born and raise in Bologna Italy, the land of milk and honey and meat and cheese.   Carlotta decided at the tender age of 19 that she wanted to live a life of compassion towards animals.  She finds it very strange that  humans could eat one group of animals, while at the same time spontaneously feel profound empathy towards other  such as our pets.

Carlotta majored in psychology in college.  In the summer of 2007, she took the bold step to start her own collection called The Flying Cow.  The first vegan eco-friendly footwear collection was meticulously studied and designed to be beautiful and wearable, handmade in Italy. In Fall of 08' the collection will be renamed Carlotta Fiorini.  www.carlottafiorini.com 
Carlotta Fiorini footwear are distributed in Italy, France and soon to launch in the USA.

Her desire is to help create a world where people become more conscientious in their buying habits; to be more aware of  how their buying decisions impacts the environment, animals and other people on the other side of the world.  Ultimately we are all connected to one another, one profoundly affects another.