These cost $18,000.
They’re hand-painted by LA-based artist David Palmer, and proceeds from their sale will go towards helping protect the rain forest.
You still all hate them, right? We’re not just imagining that this is $18,000 worth of ugly flip flop, are we?
The fact is, many of our readers hate ALL flip-flips. It wouldn’t matter if they were hand-painted by Jesus, they came up so many times in the comments on our “What Would You Ban?” post last month, that we were actually scared you’d all come and lynch us for the couple of pairs of the (non-hand-painted, not-even-close to $18,000) things lurking in the back of the Fashion Police cupboard.
We’ll come clean: we don’t share the flip-flop hate in general. We’re not saying we’d wear them to the office, or even on the city streets, but for a day at the pool or beach, they’re handy to throw on, and the kind of thing you don’t have to worry about getting damaged by chlorine from the pool, or being accidentally drenched in sunscreen. And they’re cheap, too. Or at least, the ones we buy are.
Paying $18,000 for a pair of flip-flops we wouldn’t even be able to wear for fear that the paint would come off, though? Only if they came with a free holiday, Oh, wait: they kind of do: if you buy a pair you also get a “meet and greet” with the artist, and a two-night stay at the Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills. (The website says nothing about travel costs, so we’re assuming you have to make your own way to LA, if you don’t already live there. Then again, if you’re buying $18,000 flip-flops, the cost of the plane ride probably isn’t going to stand in your way, is it?)
You also get the fuzzy, warm feeling of knowing that you have helped protect the rain forest: AND got yourself a pair of flip-flops into the bargain!
Here are some other things which may or may not help justify the price of these:
- They have 6 grams, hand-made solid 18 carat eco-friendly gold Chipkos emblem.
- They’re a one-of-a-kind hand painted piece.
- They come with a mahogany and glass display case.
- And a certificate of authenticity.
- Don’t forget the eco-friendly Chipkos carrying bag.
Basically, they’re not so much a pair of shoes as a work of art/opportunity to Do Good, then. In other words, no one’s expecting you to wear them, but you can certainly put them on display or use them as a convoluted way of donating money to a worthy cause.
Are you convinced, yet? If you are, you can buy a pair. And if you don’t have the spare $18,000, Chipkos’ other flip-flops are a little less expensive, and proceeds are also used to help save the rain forest.
