Elf Sarah, showing how much she loves our new leather hide.

Elf Sarah definitely has a flare for fashion. She is always dressed to the nines, she keeps us abreast of the latest trends and it's her input that led to the development of the stylish Fitting leather tassel fobs sold on our site. As you may guess, she takes a lot of pride in what goes onto her feet. She has a personal affection for Soft Stars made with our shiny leather colors, but also has a soft spot for animal print designs.

On Sarah's suggestion, we decided to sample a very unique animal-print leather: Ponyhair Cheetah.

No, it isn't actually made from ponies (or cheetahs, for that matter). It is still cowhide, but a very special kind of cowhide that includes the pelt side of the leather. Also known as haircalf or hair-on leather, ponyhair features the authentic animal fibers on the surface of the material. These fibers are treated and dyed to a soft, silky finish. In this case, they're painted in a cheetah-print pattern.

We only have one hide of Ponyhair Cheetah leather, so it won't last long. We're using it to make a very special edition adult Solstice sandal while the supply lasts. You can now find this sandal available for sale on our website for a limited time. When it's gone, it's gone!

UPDATE Summer 2015: Sorry, but these sandals went fast and are no longer available. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter to get first notice of our next special edition shoe.

Related Posts:

• Guess the Name of Our New Blue Leather Color
• Special Edition Snakeskin Print Shoes
• Personalize Your Handmade Moccasins with Monogrammed Leather Initials

Elf Martin

Martin is a lifelong runner who began wearing minimalist shoes over 10 years ago when he found they alleviated his chronic foot pain, which eventually disappeared completely. He further studied proper running form through a series of workshops taught by the inventor of Correct Toes Toe Spacers, Dr. Ray McClanahan DPM. Martin has collaborated with several health care professionals to collect and share peer-reviewed studies that show the benefits of minimalist footwear. In his personal life, Martin loves living in the Pacific Northwest because it allows him to enjoy a variety of outdoor activities year-round, including hiking, cycling, rock climbing, surfing and snowboarding.