Sole searching

• By KAREN MARTIN
• Advocate assistant People editor
• Published: May 16, 2008 - Page: 1E - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

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Shoes. It’s a girl thing. You really never can have too many.

Most women tend to mix it up. Flats for day. Heels for night. Flip-flops at the beach. Pumps at the office.

For some women, though, one brand of shoes is taking over their closets.

“They’re so comfortable … I wear them every day,” said Traci Petty.

In fact, Petty could wear them 56 days in a row and never wear the same pair.

They’re called Volatile, a California-based line of shoes that meshes comfort and cuteness.

And, while the company sells boots and pumps and sneakers, it’s their sandals that have stolen the “soles” of many local women, such as Petty.

The company has been in business only 13 years, according to Brian Lovely, one of two vice president brothers who run Volatile, which was started by their dad.

Lovely and brother Michael breezed through town recently on their way to New Orleans to deliver the first of what they hope will be many checks to come.

Volatile has collaborated with the New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity to help rebuild New Orleans from hurricanes Katrina and Rita. For every pair of the company’s Fleur de Lis style sold, Volatile is donating $1 toward hurricane relief efforts.

Already about 17,000 pairs — which means $17,000 in donations — have been purchased since the line was introduced last August, Lovely said.

“The majority of them were sold in Louisiana,” he said. “But we’re getting a great reaction from all over the country.”

Put Petty down for two pairs.