According to Wiki Answers, Sweden is technically just under 4,000 miles from New York City. With the onslaught of Ikea’s in the metro area, all things Swedish got slightly closer. However, New York City is now about to get a little bit “Sweder” with the introduction of a brand new line of clogs by Nina Z, a Swedish native, who grew up in the Land of the Midnight Sun until relocating in the States at the age of 18 and realizing the essential gap in the market of available footwear.

Nina Z clogs are made for modern urban ladies and are 70s-inspired retro in both design and name. Clog enthusiasts will undoubtedly leap at the opportunity to slide on a pair of Lena, Ingrid, Mona, or Sonjas. Also available in select stores and on the website are Ronja boots ($195, see pic below), named after a well-known Swedish folklorian character from the Astrid Lindgren novel, Ronja, The Robber’s Daughter.

All products, which include sandals, closed-toe and boot styles, are made in Sweden. The European Birch wood with recycled rubber soles are surprisingly much more comfortable than they appear, and are clearly made to last. Furthermore, nail heads are individually air-driven so as to guarantee that each shoe is processed with a personal touch.

As any decent New York shopper knows, winter styles start appearing in shops as early as late summer. Before we know it, Spring will have sprung in shop windows all across Fifth Avenue. For this reason, long-term clog devotees and newcomers alike should jump on the opportunity to grab these shoes before they fly out of the stores next season. Find them in specially selected shops in Manhattan, Brooklyn, or online at the Nina Z website.

Jessica Stein