Sustainable & Fair Eco Sneakers - The 7 Coolest Sneaker Labels!
In this guide we present you the 7 best, most beautiful and coolest sustainable sneakers or sneaker labels! Which ones are the hippest? Which ones will make you look good in every trendy neighborhood? These seven here are all sustainable fair fashion brands and sustainable sneaker labels with a serious sustainability strategy as well as mega stylish, street-ready, natural, vegan and eco-friendly products from fair production! Sustainable and fair sneakers are the new generation of sneaker shoes and are in no way inferior to the established conventional big manufacturers in terms of styling! Especially these are not, these are rather the future Nike & Co hunters! By clicking on the pictures you will get to the products!
1) CLAE
The brand CLAE from Los Angeles is not a sustainable start-up, but a hip sneaker label from California that has already been producing sneakers for 20 years and is very much changing into a sustainable label. And since change is often more difficult than a new beginning, it should be appreciated! CLAE, more than any other footwear brand, stands for timeless style, innovation, comfort and design while minimizing their environmental footprint. The vegan sneakers are made using solar and wind energy from renewable sources, 100% recycled water and natural light from recycled P.E.T., recycled polyester and plastics and natural rubber. Since its founding in 2001, production has taken place in a small factory in Vietnam, where the cool brand also builds houses and infrastructure for its employees and the surrounding villages. The strategic focus is currently on the production of vegan and recycled sneaker models, all of which look absolutely stylish and are first-class.
2) ekn footwear
EKN Footwear is a young sustainable and ecological company from Frankfurt, super stylish and sustainable! The production takes place under fair conditions in Portugal and in small quantities. Organic cotton, chrome-free leather (of animal origin), vegan leather, nickel-free eyelets and recycled rubber from old shoes are used. Great care is taken during production and delivery to minimize the ecological footprint and avoid unnecessary environmental impact. Each item is handmade and made from natural materials. Above all else, the styling, comfort and workmanship stand out with this brand. The label also collaborates with musicians such as Max Herre and Joy Denalane in the development and marketing of its products.
3) Flamingos' Life
The Spanish label Flamingos' Life is already better known, mega hip and was founded in 2015 by three friends. They are committed to animal rights, the environment and sustainable business. That's why it's important to them to use sustainable, vegan materials and fair working conditions in the production of their sneakers. The sneakers are produced fairly in Spain, with the workers' wages being 5 times higher than the comparable local average.
When choosing materials, only sustainable raw materials are considered. For example, 100% recycled polyester from already used PET bottles is used, corn waste, cork, bamboo, natural rubber and organic cotton. The inner soles are 100% vegetable, made from cork and natural rubber and therefore 100% biodegradable. The eyelets used on the shoes are REACH certified and lead free. All shoes have been awarded the "PETA approved Vegan" certificate by PETA.
In addition to the sustainable and fair production of the shoes, buying them also does something against deforestation. For every pair of shoes sold, 5 trees are planted in cooperation with "The Eden Project". The sneakers are not only mega stylish in appearance, but also super comfortable and lightweight!
4) Genesis Footwear
The German sneaker label Genesis Footwear combines street fashion, comfort and maximum sustainability and makes no compromises. The shoes are made of unconventional, ecological materials and are fairly produced. A portion of the profits are donated to charity to promote greater environmental integrity of fashion and sustainability. The sneakers are super stylish in appearance and very comfortable! Materials used include recycled P.E.T., pineapple leaf fiber, banana leaf fiber, organic cotton, cork, natural rubber, and other recycled plastics. The brand is also pioneering the development of sneakers made from cactus leather, which is not only sustainable but also very soft, sturdy, breathable and durable. Genesis offers sneakers made of chrome-free (but animal) leather that is LWG Gold certified, but also many vegan models, which are then also PETA-approved vegan. In addition, they work a lot with recycled or upcycled materials.
Not only the materials but also the shoes themselves are produced under fair conditions. The final shoe manufacturing takes place in a Chinese factory that guarantees fair working conditions such as a five-day week and equal pay for men and women for their employees and is also BSCI Fairtrade certified. The sneakers are then even shipped to Europe by train, as this is obviously much more environmentally friendly, even if it is slower and more expensive. But, THAT is slow fashion!
5) Humans Are Vain
Humans Are Vain is a Swedish premium vegan brand that combines the latest sustainable materials and innovation methods with timeless design. The sustainable and recycled materials are what set the sustainable shoe label apart. The products are designed to have a circular economy so that all products can be fully recycled at the end of their life. The manufacturing is done in Portugal and Sweden in carefully selected ethical factories. The sneakers are 100% vegan (PETA-approved), OEKO-TEX100 certified free of harmful substances and recyclable according to Global Recycling Standards. In addition, this sneaker label is mega cool with a lot of potential upside! Great styling, very comfortable and durable, first class workmanship like frame stitched.
6) Saye
The brand Saye (formerly Wado) is a young sustainable sneaker label that reminds of a big manufacturer with its first model (Modelo 89), but has already built up a decent name recognition. The stylish sneakers are produced in Portugal and Spain, either from LWG Gold certified leather or completely PETA-approved vegan without animal components. Recycled or upcycled materials such as P.E.T., foams or polyurethane are also used. Organic cotton is used for the laces and currently the stylish sneaker label also produces their sneaker from natural materials like corn waste, mango and bamboo. For every pair of sneakers sold, two additional trees are planted.
7) VEJA
French sustainable sneaker brand Veja is the most well-known of all sustainable sneaker labels and deserves credit for opening up the sustainable sneaker market to the mainstream. The label has been around since 2005 and their sneakers are fairly made in Brazil. Often misunderstood because of the name and the V in the logo, Veja is not a purely vegan brand, but predominantly makes sneakers from vegetable-tanned and therefore chrome-free leather. They also use sustainable materials like organic cotton, natural rubber, recycled plastic, and more recently, natural materials like corn waste. Of course, the label's cool styling stands out, which has become very trendy and is increasingly transforming Veja into a hip lifestyle brand. 
Do you have any questions or suggestions? Feel free to contact us, we are looking forward to it!!!
Copyright @Sneakers Unplugged
05.01.2021
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