Vejas Storm the Fashion World

Classic French shoe conquersAmerica

Sofia Perlman | Copy Editor

Vejas; a classic and timeless shoe that has recently grown in popularity in the United States. Each shoe features a ‘V’ on the sides in various vibrant colors, and ot only are Vejas stylish, but the brand is environmentally conscious. The French brand was founded in 2005 with the motive of sustainability: the sneakers are made with recycled materials such as plastic bottles and polyester. Not only are the cotton used by the brand sourced from farmers in Brazil and Peru, but the soles are made from raw Amazonian rubber. The Brazilian sourced materials of the shoe are often overlooked, as the shoes are most popular in France and other European countries. They can even be seen being worn by many American celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon and Emily Ratajkowski.

Kiana Poul ‘24 first discovered Vejas in 7th grade when she saw former Blake student Pippa Pflaum wearing them, she says, “I thought that they were super cute, and I had never seen them before.” Poul purchased her first pair of Vejas in Freshman year, and Poul emphasizes the versatility of the shoes, noting, “I think they’re comfortable, like an everyday tennis shoe, but I feel like they’re slightly elevated. Especially with the suede, I feel like it adds to ‘the look.’” Vejas can be worn with many different types of outfits, dressed up or down, and to a wide range of occasions. Poul states that the pair of Vejas she owns is her favorite out of all of her shoes, commenting, “I wear them almost every day.” tion style. The characters are compelling and incredibly well written and the use of color as a metaphor stunned me. Characters like Daisy divided our class, leading to enthusiastic conversations about the novel. It is one of my favorite books I have ever read and made me excited to go to class every day so I could discuss it.

“American Sonnets for My Past and Future Assassin.” This collection of poems changed the way I think about literature and it opened me up to experimental poetry with fewer rules and constraints. My favorite sonnet from this collection lists objects, concepts and people in alphabetical order. Last year, English teacher

Mike Bazzett assigned our class to write a poem in a format of one of Hayes poem’s and I chose this one. I found listing things I enjoy and putting them into a list to not only be fun, but it also helped me interpret what Hayes had written. It is one of the best poetry books I have ever read and its modern touch makes it even better.

Origin stories & “The Odyssey.” There is something so fascinating about mythology and the drama within it. Although these are a part of the ninth grade curriculum, I still remember them clearly despite the time that has passed. When I was a kid, I loved Greek mythology so I felt a tad bit of nostalgia when reading these. Although the reading can be confusing, the stories are fascinating and provide a great transition from middle school English to a high school level.

“The Outsiders.” This book isn’t technically a part of the English curriculum, however the summer before my tenth grade year our reading assignment was to read any American novel. I chose “The Outsiders” and it was a great one. Not only is the novel moving, but it depicts complex social pressures and the interweavings of friendship. This book brought me to tears, and it is perfect for anyone that loves a fast read and an engaging plot.