Who doesn’t want their kid to stand out and get the full experience at school with fun and friends? MadPax® is a wild experiment in individuality. With these backpacks, kids can be as adventurous and free-spirited as they want to be. “Why blend” is their motto. Each creation conceived enters the "fabratory" as a double dare of design and possibility.

With their roots in Phoenix, Arizona, the creators of MadPax, Mike Cordovana and Tina Huber, sought out to deliver one-of-a-kind backpacks where form meets function for kids of all ages. They wanted funky, fresh, and fun designs that would catch anyone’s attention.

As the manufacturing wizard, if you dream it, Mike does it. Once the creator behind custom homes, he is now proud to build a new brand of cutting edge backpacks for kids and big kids alike.

Tina, on the other hand, is the mad scientist, color cruncher, and backpack funker. As the sorceress of sales and marketing, she comes to MadPax with her eye on the prize and creative craze to take all collections past, present, and future of the pax to the max.

Mixing in the punk, passion, and purpose, MadPax dabs out the drab and adds the rad. Is it creature, myth, or merely magic? Meshed tight and right, the result is a backpack of cutting edge design for the ages, all ages.

As much as we don’t want to admit it, summer is beginning to wind down and that means it’s time to start thinking about fall...and school. But don’t worry; transitioning from summer to back-to-school is easier than you think with the help of some awesome kicks from Freewaters!

With a fresh assortment of fall colors and prints, these Freewaters sandals and shoes are perfect for making the most out of the last days of summer while easing your way into fall.

Plus, 1% of Freewaters gross sales go to directly fund their various water projects to provide clean drinking water to underprivilaged regions. We just love a great company with a great cause!

Girls':

1. Freewaters "Roma"

2. Freewaters "Kitz" Wedge

3. Freewaters Travel Bug Prints

Guys':

1. Freewaters "The Dude" '13

2. Freewaters "Sidney"

3. Freewaters "Mojave"

These first six weeks of my internship have flown by faster than ever, and it is already a huge task to pin point one moment that is the most memorable to me. I feel like every day I have been so lucky to experience something amazing while interning as a Merchandising Assistant Intern with Fashion Footwear at Zappos.

After day two of work, I was feeling super homesick and a little nervous in a new city. Fortunately, this feeling didn’t last long due to the wonderful people on my team, and the relationship-building tactics that Zappos lives by. Everyone was incredibly welcoming and encouraging. By the end of day two, I was invited to my first vendor dinner, and had no idea what to expect. So as nervous (and excited) as I could possibly be, I got ready, and went on my way to dine with the vendor and representative from Kork-Ease along with my two managers.

Our dinner was located at SHe in Crystals at City Center, a restaurant right in the middle of the Las Vegas Strip. It was unbelievably fancy, yet the dinner felt so relaxed; my nerves were alleviated almost immediately once it began. The meeting felt more like a social gathering with friends rather than any type of work gathering. The vendor and his rep were personable, and interested in who I was and what my dreams were. I didn’t even think I was going to get the chance speak! At the end of the meal, our guests even proposed a toast to my success here at Zappos.

It is extremely rewarding to be part of a company that focuses so much on building relationships with both their consumers and vendors. It takes relationships and experiences like mine to maintain such strong bonds with all of the amazing vendors that are working with us at Zappos. It was amazing to be a part of this experience, and I don’t think I could ever find another company that will care nearly as much about their employees or the partnerships. I will also never forget my first vendor dinner!

--Kelsey Ferrentino

Merchandise Assistant Intern--Fashion Footwear