TKEES

For Jesse and Carly Burnett, the husband and wife duo behind TKEES (t-keys), it was a no-brainer—Carly yearned for a sandal that would "disappear" on your foot. "We'd walk out the door barefoot if we could, but it's not appropriate for every occasion," she says. Thus, in the summer of 2009, using a simple thong sandal as their base, the couple (she with a degree from the School of Visual Arts and he with a background in business and real estate) produced a collection that was divided into color categories: Foundations, Creams, Liners, Glosses and more. Branded as "cosmetics for your feet," TKEES was born, and has become the go-to sandal for easy, fresh and sophisticated everyday dressing. Carly, the ultimate flip-flop girl, was never big on makeup, but loved its myriad color collections. She sifted through her mom's cosmetic case and traveled the world with Jesse to build their business, finding continued inspiration in makeup stores and cosmetic counters. "The categories we created are natural and organic," she says, "everything fits together." The couple has stayed true to their mission, with customers applauding the sandals for their casual elegance and ease of wear—a no-brainer indeed.