eco-friendly » ShoeLaLa

An Ode to Buy Nothing Day: Adbusters' Blackspot Shoes

Functional, Vegetarian Shoes 2 Responses »

Nov 282008

Today is North American Buy Nothing Day, and tomorrow is International Buy Nothing Day. Yes, this also applies to shoes! In fact, you couldn’t buy these shoes from Adbusters even if you wanted to, because their online store is closed for BND! (You can, however, buy them in a few other places, but I’ll let you figure that out for yourselves )

Adbusters designed these shoes as part of their Black Spot campaign. This ‘brandless brand’ is a pretty neat concept. What I really like though is the role the shoe played in the campaign – Adbusters wanted to rebuff big shoe companies for their claims that it was economically unfeasible to stop using sweatshops. The Blackspot sneaker kicks that bunk argument out the door. This eco-friendly vegetarian shoe is made from hemp and recycled rubber in a unionized factory in Portugal. And, it includes a little red dot on the toe, the “sweet spot for kicking corporate ass.” (I believe that sentiment was originally directed at Phil Knight, co-founder of Nike).

In terms of design, I personally prefer the scruffy “Unswoosher”, below, to the clean-looking Blackspot classic, above.

An Eco-friendly alternative to Crocs

eco-shoes, online shopping No Responses »

Jul 082008

Like the functionality and comfort of Crocs, but find them a little fug and over-hyped? Here’s a unique and earth-friendly alternative: the “Mion Bhakti Women” from eco-retailer Planet Shoes.

The “webbing thong” is made of 50% recycled PET, and it’s got a 15% recycled rubber outsole.

And hey, supporting a small, family owned business is always a good thing.

The site has a wide array of sustainable footwear. Lots more Croc-like shoes, some fabulous boots, a lot of granola-looking numbers, some tragically fug dress shoes, and some super cute casuals that I may not be able to resist. They even have recycled flip flops! Way cool.

Fashionista Compassionista - new collection from Bourgeois Boheme

New collections, online shopping, Vegetarian Shoes No Responses »

Feb 212008

Liberto from Bourgeois Boheme New veg shoes alert! UK veg fashion boutique Bourgeois Boheme has launched a line of ethical yet affordable footwear for both women and men.

From the press release:

Handmade and ethically produced in Portugal and India, Bourgeois Boheme’s Espiritual and Jiva ranges offer both men and women an alternative in the world of mainstream fashion, where shoe production is often linked not only with animal suffering but also with workforce exploitation and environmental destruction.

The range is made of microfibre, the highest quality and most eco-friendly leather alternative, and is 100% animal friendly. Even the glue used is water-based.

Each of the designers and factories has been handpicked for their ethical work conditions and kinder-to-life sensibilities: it is important to Bourgeois Boheme that from design to finished item they know exactly how their shoes have been made.

Aside from the warm tingly do-good feeling, this new line thrills me because the shoes are made with a broad range of ethical considerations (take note, Te Casan). Sure, you can find some cheap non-leather PVC shoes at Tack-Mart. But can you really feel good about that? This line aims for compassion in more than one sphere. Non-leather, eco-friendlier materials, ethical work conditions for production, and supporting small business rather than a faceless clone-o-mart. Lalita Earth from Bourgeois Boheme

From the women’s line, I like the Lalita Earth. Simple and classy design, but with funky gold faux lizard. The other women’s shoes in the line are not to my taste so much, but luckily Bourgeois Boheme has a wider selection of veg ethically sourced shoes outside of their own collection. And I know this is a shoe blog, but damn, they have some really great bags. Curse my budget.

Even better though, this line includes some really fabu men’s shoes. My partner has an impossible time trying to find non-leather dress shoes at the local mall, let alone ones that are high quality instead of the usual fug cheapo department store brand with matte PVC and frayed contrast stitching. Quelle horreur.