This Thursday, January 26, local women’s footwear company Roses & Rye is partnering with nonprofit Children of Shelters for a pop-up shop at The Gatehouse at Fort Mason from 5-8pm. 25 percent of sales proceeds will go directly to Children of Shelters, an organization whose aim is “to provide support and education for children living in or being served by the homeless shelter system.”

Roses & Rye was founded in fall of 2011 by mother Patricia Calfee, for mothers. Becoming a mother opened Calfee’s eyes to a new challenge: stylish but comfortable footwear for moms. “Like many new mothers, I quickly realized that my collection of gorgeous stilettos wasn’t going to cut it during the hectic days of new motherhood,” Calfee says.

“Yet wearing unattractive flats with no insole support would damage my feet. I worked with a cobbler and surgical podiatrist to create a shoe that protected my feet so that I could return to sky high heels when I wanted.”

Initially, Calfee contacted the cobbler and surgical podiatrist to design a shoe for herself. When she shared with her girlfriends, they clamored for shoes and thus began Roses & Rye.

The Marina, in red // courtesy Roses & Rye

The line launched with two styles, The Marina and The Laurel, named after neighborhoods where Roses & Rye team members have lived. Both styles launched in camel, red, black and pewter, and are constructed of supple kid leather. The Marina ($189) features a partial d’Orsay, while The Laurel ($235) has Audrey Hepburn written all over.

To ensure that the designs meet mothers’ unique needs, Roses & Rye created a “feedback circle of Moms.” Says Calfee: “Style and beauty is very important to us and paired with the functionality for a great feeling shoe… this is utopia!”

Currently, Roses & Rye shoes can be purchased from the company’s website, or at local one-night pop-up shops. Local customers can also do fit tests at the San Francisco design studio.

“Our pop-up shops are fun, one night events where 25% of sales proceeds are donated directly to our non-profit partners,” says Calfee. “Some pop-up shops feature a reflexology bar for quick foot massage while others host wine tastings.”

The organizations Roses & Rye chooses to partner with reflect their belief that Moms Change the World. They focus on those that help Moms and families in need, around issues such as homelessness (Children of Shelters, Project Night Night) and family stability (San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center).

Roses & Rye’s Summer 2012 line will feature a peep toe flat and a flip-flop in new colors.