Standing Tall

In the pink: Wendy Davis filibuster sneakers are a big hit

Unless you've been living under a rock the past few days, you've heard about Democratic Senator Wendy Davis' historic filibuster that took place at the Texas Capitol on Tuesday.

The bill Davis was fighting, SB 5, would have put an end to abortions after 20 weeks and potentially closed all but a handful of the state's existing clinics.

With a strong, boisterous conservative majority in the Texas Senate, the likelihood that the bill would pass and become law was too great to ignore for pro-choice advocates. So with a roaring crowd of feminist supporters, Davis stood for hours and succeeded in shutting down the controversial bill.

Mizuno's daily website traffic totals have nearly double compared to the same day last week, and the Wave Rider 16 product page led as the No. 1 viewed page.

During her filibuster, Davis sported a pair of pink Mizuno Wave Riders, which have attracted quite a bit of attention in the marketplace this week. Knowing that rules prohibited her from leaning, sitting or taking breaks during her filibuster, Davis opted to wear supportive athletic shoes.

Many believe the senator chose the shoes because pro-life Republican feminists are often referred to as "pink elephants." In 2010, Sarah Palin emphasized that there would be an increase in pink elephants in the coming years, promising an increase in GOP women fighting against pro-choice rights.

Harper Cornell, public relations manager at Mizuno, spoke to CultureMap about the phenomenon and its effect on the company. "The resulting attention from media and social media has driven a significant increase in traffic to MizunoRunning.com and the Wave Rider 16 product page, specifically. [Mizuno's] daily website traffic totals nearly doubled compared to the same day last week, and the Wave Rider 16 product page led as the No. 1 viewed page."

Cornell continued, "[They] are proud of the running shoes [they] develop for customers and know the Wave Rider’s design is able to provide the comfort and cushioning needed for any endurance event, whether it’s a 5K, a marathon or 10-hour filibuster."

Cornell wasn't able to disclose if Wave Rider sales had noticeably increased since Mizuno is a privately-held company, and emphasized that while the company appreciate's Davis' choice in footwear, Mizuno does not maintain a corporate position related to the issue in discussion.

For those Houstonians hoping to get their hands on a pair of these now-historic shoes, you're in luck. Luke's Locker, Fleet Feet and Finish Strong Sports have the mesh pink shoes (the technical color combination is "Rogue Red/Apple Green") in stock.

And if you have extra time, it's worth reading the comical Mizuno Wave Rider 16 reviews on Amazon.com, which note that shoes are "marathon shoe[s] for marathon filibustering" and "fit perfectly up a Republican's rear."

Wendy Davis' Mizunos.

Photo by Eric Gay AP

Wendy Davis' Mizunos.

unspecified

FALL FÊTE

Texas luxury boutique collabs with Houston designer for new fashion brand

Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

Saint Bernard teams up with Houston designer Lyndsey Zorich for Love Note.

River Oaks District boutique Saint Bernard is getting ready for fall with a new collection created with Houston style veteran Lyndsey Zorich. The fashion-forward retailer and the founder and designer of Mason's Daughter teamed up to launch Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich, a new Saint Bernard-owned brand.

Saint Bernard doesn't usually collaborate with local designers on its own brands, making this partnership with Zorich special. She was involved in everything from creative direction and textile development to fabrication and production. Shoppers can expect a feminine collection with a playful take on everyday dressing for women who want to look put together, but not too serious.

Love Note officially launches on Thursday, September 10 at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, as well as online. Customers will have to be patient, because another unique aspect of this collaboration is that the entire collection won’t debut at once. Instead, the brand will roll out in a series of monthly drops, each having its own seasonal point of view.

Saint Bernard x Lyndsey Zorich Love Note by Lyndsey Zorich is available at Saint Bernard stores in Houston, Dallas, Southlake, San Antonio, and Austin, plus online.Photo courtesy of Saint Bernard

The Kick Off is the first drop in September. It is a game day-inspired collection with pieces designed for fall sports and weekend road trips. In October, The Lean In will debut with more feminine silhouettes, followed by Getting Comfortable, which focuses on the perfect layering pieces for Texas’s warm fall weather.

A longtime Saint Bernard shopper herself, Zorich's unique style and Texas perspective gave her a greater understanding of what Texas customers want.

“Getting dressed has always been one of my favorite forms of self-expression, and Love Note allowed me to take that idea from concept all the way through the finished product,” said Zorich. "Saint Bernard felt like the right partner, because I genuinely understand and love their customers. Love Note is meant to bring a little more playfulness to getting dressed, pieces that feel personal, special, and bring joy to everyday life.”

That individual connection is what Saint Bernard wanted in this project. According to Ashleigh Goyer, director of owned brands for Saint Bernard, the store wanted a new way for Saint Bernard to give customers something both recognizable and unexpected.

"She shares her perspective, her lifestyle, and her love of fashion, and she has an incredible ability to make getting dressed feel effortless and personal," said Goyer.

lyndsey zorich river oaks district houston shopping saint bernard houston