Green Options

Funny what turns me on and this one hits the spot! It’s a biodegradable shower cap that can be used again, composted, or thrown straight to the trash. Guilt free is the key emotion here.

I was hit with a nostalgic trip down memory lane when I opened up this pack of Nowali Moccasins. I had a couple pairs of these when I was a kid. I don’t know if they were actually Nowali’s or cheap imitations but I had these fun, warm and wonderful slipper sock moccasins as a kid. Now I am thrilled to have an adult size pair to warm my feet on cold nights (and days).

The three design concepts from Terra Plana are 21st Century Artisan, Recycled and Barefoot. In summary, the collections exude an understanding of classic shoe making, but with a passion for modern techniques and materials.

The company makes many different types of shoes, but the Terra Plana collection is the most traditional “green” and design students are paying close attention. Features to expect:

Birki Schuh GmbH was founded in 1993 by Stephan Birkenstock. His General Manager title remains for the Birki’s brand today. His famous cork-latex footbed feature was highlighted from the beginning. So were his anatomically molded footbeds.

The German Birki’s brand offers a large vegan all-age shoe collection that ranges from cork sandals to water-friendly clogs, and lots in between. Those special footbeds are made of cork, ALPRO®-cell or ALPRO®-foam, which are terrific shock absorbing materials.

It was 1997 when Splaff Flopps joined the green wave, — and in more ways than one! El Presidente Cliff Drill and El Ambassador Craig Wallace got creative in a garage. Their materials and tools were a tire, a bike tube, and a shoe knife. Indeed they had a vision. The goal was to make durable, comfortable and reasonably-priced sandals from recycled materials.

Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu founded the soleRebels brand in 2004 with her husband and brother to help create jobs in Zenabwork, Ethiopia. At the time there were hardly any jobs in the community. But when the family decided to redesign traditional Ethiopian shoes made from recycled tires, expansion mode kicked in and employees were hired.

Last year we shared our admiration for Brazilian shoe maker Melissa and the evolution of their footwear designs and this year their recycled plastic shoes never looked so good!

“The environmentally sensitive sandal is ethically made in Brazil in a closed loop system so there is no waste. The Gladiator is made from recycled MEFLEX plastic and provides amazing comfort for your battle weary feet.”

Little more than a year ago, Wicked Footwear in New Hampshire created a new adult collection of shoes and boots fittingly named Wicked Hemp. Co-owner Matt Mahmet described the venture as his “future-past vision” derived from his eight years in the footwear industry, and his personal interest in an outdoor lifestyle. Matt combined his work and passion with the hemp revolution, which was not so popular during his American history studies in college.

Matt converted a small farm of mountains, trails and streams into the Wicked Footwear headquarters where new designs are developed and tested. The Wicked Hemp division turned global August 2008. And a new wood pulp and hemp collection was created with projected deliveries soon, ‒ mid 2009.

There were a few great eco shoe companies at the beginning of this decade that sadly fizzled out. Perhaps there were a variety of reasons, but obtaining sustainable and recycled materials at a feasible cost was a biggie.

Not only are “green” resources more available today, there are authenticity and certification programs, as well as trace systems that track from field to retailer. Simple Shoes is a business with deserved admiration for establishing sustainable material suppliers through a combination of programs. They appropriately describe themselves as a “nice little shoe company getting in touch with its inner hippie.”

Terra Plana is an interesting blend of what many would call ethical footwear.

The Terra Plana Ethical Policy states:

Inspired by ecological survival, Terra Plana believes in a variety of non-generic products and sustainable strategies. Guided by life cycle analysis, Terra Plana aims towards publishing accurate life cycle matrices for every product we produce. Reparability, lightness, anatomic design, and durability are all staples of sustainable shoe making. We at Terra Plana regularly re-evaluate what we can do to minimize waste and toxin use and maximize product use and love

Terra Plana has received international acclaim for their craftsmanship in publications like Vouge Italia (shown above) and also here on Feel Good Style in“Reason number one not to go barefoot this summer” we shared that:

These vegan Do-Ni Nobilia ballerinas are enchanted magic slippers that are :

designed by two seasoned vegetarian shoe designers.

fair-trade, handmade in Portugal by artisans

constructed of water-based glues, French ribbons and low-solvent Italian pleather, recycled insole boards.

created for comfort with an elasticized band at the edges, padded insole for a perfect form-fit.

Do-Ni saves on brick ad mortar retail costs and virtually sells direct, then donates to charities you choose like Best Friends Animal Society, Medicines Global, Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and 100% of proceeds are donated to participating non-profit organizations.