My Secret Mission
During my lunch break today, I embarked on a mission: To find a pair of size 39 Marcelles in cordovan cabrio. I resolved to uncover every stone and follow any path that might lead to success. I began my mission at Dansko.com’s E-tailer list. Sequentially, I visited the 50 E-Tailers. From Tip Top Shoes to Takken Shoes, from Earth Walk Shoes to Clog Comfort. Although I met disappointment with each query, I trudged on.
Yes Marcelle, no Cordovan Cabrio! Yes cordovan cabrio, No size 39! No no no! At the 45 minute mark, I developed a pounding headache and nearly surrendered to the prospect of a failed mission.
Then I clicked on Shoe-Store.net. Whoa! Available?!? For real? Available in 39! I added 1 to the cart and proceeded to checkout. Free shipping, too … oh my god…. it sounded too good to be true. Ecstatic, I called Shoe-Store.net’s 800 number to verify the startling good news.
What do you think happened? Pick a scenario:
Scenario A: Mission was successful. Positively verified stock item and ordered a pair of the Cordovan Cabrio-colored Marcelle in 39 and I am now giddy, grinning from ear to ear, gleefully awaiting their arrival.
Scenario B: Mission was impossible. Verified that the item was really not in stock and upon resuming the search, the headache exploded into a migraine and I then deemed the mission impossible and consequently aborted.
Okay, okay... neither Scenario A nor B in their entirety came to pass. Rather, the mission became hopeful. I spoke with Korey at Shoe-Store.net, who then confirmed that shipping was free, but that the website (Shoe-store.net) was actually mistaken and that the Cordovan Cabrio was indeed out of stock. I then hypothetically asked, “Why would Dansko stop making such a great shoe?” Surprisingly, Korey had a good answer.
I learned that a company by the name of Sanita Clogs manufactures shoes for Dansko. As a matter of fact, Dansko clogs are Sanita Clogs with the Dansko label. Apparently, Dansko’s exclusive rights on the patent expired recently and Sanita Clogs has chosen to manufacture and sell the clogs exclusively under the Sanita brand name, which explains why Dansko has discontinued so many styles, including the Marcelle.
I visited SanitaClogs.com, still on the search for the elusive Marcelle. Sanita Clogs’ version of Marcelle is called Malina and their comparable name for cordovan cabrio is bordo. Though the general shape of the shoes were similar, the lines were different and I must say that Malina can be best described as Marcelle’s odd-looking twin – almost pretty. Would I buy it? Since the picture on the website was of a black Malina, I asked Korey to send me a photo of a Bordo-colored Malina if at all possible. Until I see a picture that resembles the cordovan cabrio, I feel hesitant about Malina.
Sigh. At the end of this very long story, my hopes are high. And why? Well, I will disclose this next week, but until then, it's my little secret.
Comments: { Add your own }
A secret? So intrigued. And so saddened by the demise of the Marcelle.
Not sure how I feel about the Malina. The more I look at it, the more I like it, especially its lack of side seams - I usually have to cover them with moleskin on the inside since I'm sensitive that way.
But they sort of look like almost-Marcelles, you know? Like they aren't the real thing.
I followed Chez Shoes' link here to this interesting post. I think I had heard that Sanita had taken over the manufacture of Dansko some years back. One of the stores in our area had stopped carrying Dansko and was only carrying Sanita. I tried the Sanita, and they were nowhere near as comfortable as the Dansko's. I can't remember what the problem was, and it was minor, but noticable to me.
Good luck! I'm after a pair of 39 Dansko Marcelles in Cordovan also! Race ya!
Good hunting, ladies.
Very interesting! Like you and Chez, not sure what I think of all of this and it might take me awhile to get used to this look...I just love Marcelles!
I don't mind the look of the Sanita version -- those seams in the front of my Marcelles have been a problem, since the stitching tends to come loose, and I have to take them to be repaired. If they offer them in more colors, I would buy the Sanita version, but they don't seem to have a wide color variety available for any of their shoes...
Check back at the site, they show the Lisa Brushoff in the Bordo color. http://www.sanitaclogs.com/leisure-closedback_lisa-brushoff.asp
your tale of woe is oh so similar. I went through an almost identical search when the patent leather version of the marcelle suddenly became obsolete. There is a glimmer of hope, I wrote a letter to to Sanita asking them to consider making the "malina" in some of the more colorful and playful colors as they offer in the professional clog.I received an email from the company's CEO that stated that he would take my thoughts into consideration etc, BUT the nifty part of the email stated that they have decided to continue manufacturing the "marcelle" as we know and love it as opposed to the "malina". Dunno when we'll start seeing them, it's january and i still can't place an order for them on the website. Happy hunting!
For all of you looking for the Marcelle: Sanita still makes it! It is the same shoe, with the same patent number. You can buy them at www.footwearexpress.com with free shipping and no tax!!!! They carry Cordovan, Black and Hickory in the Sanitas, and they still have the Brown Latigo in the Danskos!!!
Sanita is making the Marcelle now and in the Bordo color you are looking for. I have worn both Dansko's and Sanita's myself. You can purchase them at Davidson Shoes Inc. www.shoestoboot.com. It is not on there website yet but if you call them. They will get them to you! Good Luck!
I am involved in a similar quest for the dansko madrigal in chocolate brown. I've found it in some places online but none in my size (36). Anyone know where I can find it?