SUSTAINABILITY SPECIAL

An overview of european companies which have made of green fashion their own philosophy.

Woody

At the core of the Sittersdorf-based company (Austria), is a patent for a flexible willow sole for men’s, women’s and children’s sandals and shoes. Since 1920, the year Woody was established, the focus has been on the wellbeing of feet, with advanced studies on ergonomics and wearability, as well as treatments with natural substances to make them resistant to the weather and wear-and-tear

Grand Step Shoes

The origin of materials and their quality is the core philosophy behind the German brand: rubber for the men’s, women’s and children’s boots comes from Europe, hemp from India, jute and fabric for the espadrilles and sandals range come from Spain, and they’re always in line with the principles of fair trade. This fresh, modern design is entirely ‘Made in Germany’.

Duckfeet

Established in Denmark in 1975, the company proposes not only seasonal collections but also a continual range of models with a minimalistic design. They use Scandinavian leathers, which are processed to make them resistant to wear-and-tear using chrome in pre-tanning while the rest of the procedure is carried out with vegetable products, but always in line with the principles of sustainability. The hand craftsmanship of Duckfeet footwear also means exclusivity, because no two pairs are ever the same.

John W. Shoes

The German company proposes three different brands, which are all the result of an in-depth study of design and materials: from the chrome-free John W. Shoes range, the young and dynamic 1608 Jonny range, right the way through to the highly popular Jonny’s Vegan collection. The company also really focuses on communication and its presence at international footwear shows (for example, they’re at Micam in Milan and GDS in Düsseldorf) to provide a variety of different options for buyers in search of truly green products.

NAE Vegan

Since its launch in 2008, the Portuguese brand (acronym for ‘No Animal Exploitation’) only use materials of non-animal origins, in complete respect for the environment and nature. NAE has developed its wide range of ethical footwear using cork, ecological microfibers and now Piñatex, a natural material made of pineapple fibers (by-products from the food industry), which can be used as an alternative to textiles and leathers. The brand poses itself as an alternative not only for those seeking quality Portuguese shoes with a high fashion content, but also for those who want a product that respects the planet.

Werner 1911

Based in the Pirmasens footwear district, the German company produces sneakers, slip-ons and sandals using the very best materials and chrome-free leathers. They are also proud members of the International Association of Natural Textile Industry (IVN), an international body that certifies over 90 companies dedicated to the principles of social and environmental responsibility.

Alina Schuerfeld

Deep in the heart of this Hamburg-based designer is a sustainable project for a collection made with chrome-free, vegetable or rhubarb-based tanning processes, which allow for the creation of a trendy colour palette for pumps, mules and boots. Among the various materials used is certified eco-salmon and leathers from Germany and Italy, whereas the espadrilles are made of Tyvek® and produced in Spain; this synthetic material, which has a similar appearance to paper, is in reality tear-proof, resistant to many types of acids and chemical bases, breathable but waterproof, non-toxic and recyclable.

Ultrashoes

For this Portuguese brand, it’s not just about upcycling rubber soles, vegan, biodegradable collections or light cork for sneakers, it’s about ‘circular economy’ shoes. This innovative project foresees the creation of footwear that is easy to disassemble at the end of its lifetime, so it can then be recycled or composted. The designs also come complete with recovered soles, made of recycled leather from car seats; the stitching is glue-free, with no metallic parts, and the shoes cost 10 to 20% less than a normal pair. In fact, most of the components are more economical and by eliminating the gluing process of the sole, the impact of energy use is significantly reduced.