Oliberté was founded in 2009 “with the concept of building premium outdoor leather shoes by quality crafts people resulting in creating sustainable jobs.” This idea is very simple and powerful: Trade not aid. Check out the website and you’ll see the wide variety of casual shoes and other leather products available from this brand made in Ethiopia.

They sent us a pair of the Narivo in Brown-Yellow Pullup casual men’s loafer to try out and we were very impressed with the quality and craftsmanship. The brown shoe is pictured above and you can see that it would be perfect with jeans or slacks and for all sorts of casual settings. The high quality leather is very soft, and the classic design also has a modern twist with the lighter colored soles. This pair comes in grey, tan and green as well.

Here are the specs for this pair that retails for $130:

• Traditional stitch-down stitching around base
• Premium brown/yellow pullup leather upper
• 100% goat leather dark brown lining
• Vegetable tanned leather midsole
• Natural crepe rubber outsole with wedge
• 3mm dark brown round leather cord laces

If you browse the website you’ll also see a wide variety of beautiful leather bags as well. When it comes to quality and design, we’re confident you’ll be happy with products from Oliberté, and with Father’s Day coming up soon, you can find some excellent gift ideas as well.

Burnetie sent us one of their Ox Light casual shoes and we were impressed by the quality and comfort. These low tops with a canvas body with rubber sole sports a classic design that has been updated to make the shoe lighter and more comfortable. The white stitching also adds to the styling. Canvas shoes with white runner soles have become very popular and the Ox Light model would be a great option for spring or summer, or even winter if you’re lucky enough to head south for warmer weather. The shoes come in black and red as well and they look great with shorts, jeans or casual slacks.

For consumers interested in sustainable products, Burnetie recycles their rubber waste and makes their outsoles with 50% pre-consumer recycled rubber.

Check out the Burnetie web site for an excellent selection of shoes for men and women. You’ll find classic looks like the Ox Light shoes we tried along with trendier options as well. The prices are very affordable and you should find some great gift ideas for the holidays.

We’re big fans of Lugz shoes, like the canvas shoes we reviewed last year. So we were happy to try out the new Changover Perf style that comes in white with black trim. The shoes have the look and feel of sneakers with super-soft leather and subtle but distinctive styling. The perforated leather on the sides with the four side-stripes give the shoes a high-end look. The shoes are super-comfortable with a padded tongue & collar and cushioned insole, and the soles are thick with traction grooves cutting across the sole for a jagged look.

These won’t replace your cross-training sneakers but you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more comfortable shoe for walking, making them a great option for everyday use. They’re great for the summer as they fit well with a wide variety of shorts or jeans. With Father’s Day coming up, the new Changeover Perf can make a great gift for dad.

It’s summertime, so you’re going to need some casual shoes to go with shorts or slacks that you can comfortably wear without socks. Flip flops are great in the summer but you can’t wear them everywhere, and the leather sandals just aren’t in style any more. We tried several new styles from Crevo including the Boone Dock shoes pictured above, and both were incredibly comfortable and looked great.

The Boone Docks have a unique feel with the fleece lining. It’s a little warm sometimes but the comfort level is fantastic. The shoes feature a cow suede upper, padded collar for extra comfort and fit and a cushioned EVA footbed, along with a lightweight and flexible non-slip rubber outsole. I love the look of this pair and they dress up your look while keeping it casual.

I tried out the Crevo Nepal in black and also loved this super-casual shoe. It’s super light and comfortable and great for everyday use when it’s warm. Slipping this pair on and off is super easy. They also look great with the white bottom sole that is becoming popular with casual shoes so they’ll definitely upgrade your style over your sneakers. The garment-dyed twill provides a well-worn and washed-out style and the shoes are ultra light.

You don’t need to toss your sneakers and sandals, but you can update your summer look considerably with the new Crevo styles. Check out the website for more selections, and keep them in mind as a gift idea with Father’s Day coming up soon.