Blog
Buy Australian
There’s certainly been an increase in the push to “Buy Australian, “Shop Small” and “Shop Local” in the last few years. Particularly now since COVID-19 we need to support, not just small Australian businesses but all Australian businesses. We need to support them to help them survive and thrive. Whenever possible, I try my best to buy from small local producers or an Australian owned and operated company. Some of the small local businesses I try to support in my city of Perth, Western Australia are: Beach Street Design (coastal luxe fashion) Shiraz Cottesloe (cute shop stocking fashion, homewares, jewellery...
Christmas Reds
Seriously it's time to order your Sandals now if you want them for Christmas. You know I handcraft each and every pair of Sandals when you place your order so I need time to make your Sandals for you. On top of this Australia Post are swamped with deliveries and there are still fewer flights scheduled which means there are delays in shipping your order and delays in Australia Post getting it to you. So, I highly recommend you order NOW for Christmas to avoid dissappointment. Lots of love and Merry Christmas to you and yours! ...
Calzolaio (Sandal Maker)
Creatore di sandali is Italian for Sandal Maker. The word Calzolaio is also often used. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever know I would end up being a Sandal Designer and Sandal Maker. I call it my mid-life creative detour or my mid-life career detour. It all happened by a chance encounter after studying and holidaying in Italy. But to make it happen I had to take the risk by jumping on a plane alone, working for no pay in Italy and then investing in mine own start-up business. So, for anyone who has a dream, I hope...
Yellow Must-Have Sandals
Do you really need a pair of yellow sandals? Well, I know there’s a big difference between need and want but I’m a sandal designer, so of course I’m going to say yes because I do have a yellow design in my range currently. When something is trending and we see it often enough then eventually we want it too. Yellow sandals and bags were certainly popular this past Summer in Europe and so of course they’re going to be popular this Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. My yellow design is called Lisa and it’s in luscious bright yellow suede...
International Gratitude Day
Yesterday was International Gratitude Day. As a Sandal Artisan and since launching Ankalia the things I’m grateful for have probably changed a lot, compared to what they may have been in previous years. First of all, I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity given to me by ‘Papa” and his sons in Italy. If it wasn’t for them, I would never have become a Sandal Artisan. Secondly, I’m grateful for the people that have helped me along the way with Ankalia. Probably number one here is my web developer Rox at Ascend7. Rox goes above and beyond with everything he does...
Sandals by Cheryl Botha of Ankalia
Here I am introducing myself (again) and my sandal label – Ankalia, which launched 6 years ago. Ankalia is a female created, owned and managed sandal business that handcrafts luxury, limited edition Swarovski crystal leather sandals. We’re an online business based in Australia and all our sandals are designed and handcrafted by me. One of the reasons I started Ankalia is that I wanted to give women easy access to high-quality, limited-edition Swarovski crystal sandals, outside of Italy. Comfort is so important when it comes to shoes and so many women want an alternative to super high heels. That’s where...
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