Following in the very big footsteps of TOMS, Canadian designer Tal Dehtiar wrote us yesterday about his newly launched shoe line Oliberté. We’re delighted to feature these cool high-minded sneakers!

Made in Africa with locally sourced rubber and leather, the shoes are every bit as chic as your favorite pair of Pumas but with a socially responsible mission to back up their style. Says Dehtiar:

“All the attention on Africa is focused on alleviating poverty, but the only real way to alleviate poverty on this beautiful continent is to build a middle class that includes fair paying jobs. The more shoes sold, the more fair jobs will be created at local factories where Oliberté works which ultimately changes lives for the better. …

“If we wanted to make cheap shoes, we’d simple go to Asia, but this is NOT about cheap shoes or labour. This is about premium quality and fashionable footwear that creates fair paying jobs in the poorest countries of the world.”

Check out all the styles for men and women here.

Elika Ladies Shoe in Light Blue, $103 CAD at Oliberte.com.

Correction: Oliberté is not fair-trade certified (yet), but Dehtiar informs us that the line’s “sourcing, materials, suppliers, who we work with and how is based on fair trade principles and we hope to continue to improve and influence in the countries where we work.”