Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber that is made from the drool of a little worm called the bombyx mori (a fancy name for silk worm).
Latex
We use crepe/latex rubber because it is a sticky, grippy form of rubber that retains much of it's original character from when it has been tapped out of a tree (a very similar process to how you get maple syrup).
Organic Cotton
Organic cotton is cotton that is grown from seeds that have not been genetically modified and have been grown without the use of herbicides, pesticides, or chemical fertilizers that has been certified by a third party.
We use organic cotton for lots of reasons. For one, we like the idea that the cotton that is being used in our shoes has a lineage that extends back as far as you can imagine. With all of the genetically modified plants that are popping up here and there, it's nice to know someone in a white coat hasn't been tinkering with a seed to make it more drought or pest resistant. Secondly, we like that the cotton hasn't been exposed to any herbicides, pesticides, or synthetic fertilizers. Call us crazy, but when you think about the way Nicorette™ works, it's scary to think about how some pesticide could be leeching into your skin. Third, we like that the people who grow and pick the cotton aren't being exposed to those same chemicals - in turn, we also like that these same chemicals aren't depositing themselves in the water table. Imagine if more people gave the idea thought... By supporting farmers that have decided to make this switch, you are helping to ensure that this thriving organic community will see that there is profit in organic. It's worth it!
Felted Wool
Our felt comes from sheep. When they get their annual haircut, we collect the wool and wash it in super hot water to get all the fibers tangled and matted... this is how we make felt. It's about the same thing that happens when you put your wool sweater in the washing machine.
We love using wool felt since it comes straight from the sheep. It's a super warm material that helps keep your feet cozy.
Coconut
Besides containing something delicious, the outer shell of a coconut is a pretty tough material that is very similar to wood. Just think of the possibilities...
We like to make the buttons we use in our shoes out of coconut. It's renewable and plentiful.
Recycled Inner Tubes
Our inner tubes come from big tires... not the tiny ones in your bike's wheels.
We use recycled inner tube accents on our sneakers because we like the way they look and we really like re-using materials that would otherwise wind up in a landfill or incinerated.
Hemp
Hemp is a plant that grows like a weed all over the world. While it is illegal to grow in the United States (even though you can't smoke it!), it is one of the most durable, breathable, and heat retaining fibers in the world. Many farmers in China plant Hemp around the perimeter of their fields since it acts like a natural pest repellant. And because of this, most hemp is not treated with any pesticides or herbicides.
We use hemp in our sneakers because it is soft, keeps your feet cool on warm days and warm on the colder ones, and also because it is breathable... the perfect mix of qualities for something you put on your foot.
Recycled PET & Latex Elastic
The elastic we use in our shoes comes from latex rubber (that's the stretchy part) and recycled PET filaments (we wrap these around the latex rubber so it doesn't rub uncomfortably on your feet).
We use recycled PET and latex elastic since it incorporates a recycled material (PET) and latex - a naturally stretchy material.
Jute
Jute comes from a shrub that mainly grows in Asia. It's considered a bast fiber which places it in a similar family as flax and hemp...
We use jute because it is really strong, plentiful, and biodegradable. As a matter of fact, some people place Jute as the second most important fiber after cotton since it is used industrially (a backer for linoleum and a base for carpeting), in agriculture (potato sacks and ties for bulk bunches of things like cotton and veggies), our shoes (voila!), and for household items (rugs and other fabrics).
BLC (Leather) and ISO 14001 (Suedes)
Does ISO 14001 sound like robot language to you, too? BLC and ISO 14001 are abbreviations and descriptions of tanneries that have put a stake in the ground in terms of their environmental impact. This means that the suedes and nearly all leathers that we use in our line come from factories that have committed to continued efforts to reduce their environmental impact. Assessment is taken by a third party and certification is renewed ONLY pending the factories continued commitment.
We use BLC leathers and ISO 14001 suedes because we choose to support the tanneries that have acknowledged their effect on the environment and have taken a proactive approach to addressing their own impact.
Recycled Plastics (PET)
PET is the abbreviation of polyethylene terephthalate, which is really just a fancy-pants word for clear plastic that comes from soda and water bottles.
We use PET to make some of our shoelaces and as the wrapping around the latex elastic we use in some of our shoes.
Cork
Cork is a natural and antimicrobial material that comes from the outer skin of trees. The bark is pulled away from the tree to expose a layer between the bark and the wood - this layer is called suberin. The suberin layer is almost like the fatty tissue of the tree. From here, this layer is scraped and dried. The dried bits get ground up and mixed with latex in many of our pedbeds.
We like to use cork for a couple of reasons: first, it's antimicrobial, second, it's spongy and resilient, and third, because our cork is farmed in a way that doesn't fell the tree.
Bamboo
Bamboo is one of the most plentiful and quick growing plants (some bamboo plants grow up to 4 feet in a day!) that also has great anti-microbial properties. Remarkably, bamboo is grown without the use of pesticides... so in some senses, it's organic without the certification.
We use bamboo since it helps keep smells away and also because it is so plentiful, which makes it a renewable resource.
Water Based Cements
Wherever we can, we use water based cements. By incorporating these cements into our footwear, we're eliminating the use of petroleum based cements...not to mention the exposure to the people that put your shoes together. If you ever get a whiff of regular shoe cements, you'll understand what we mean.
Rubbahyde
We make rubbahyde from latex that we pour on top of a textile backer. This makes a sheet of rubbery fabric that we like to use in our shoes.
While it's not the most complicated process, Rubbahyde is a waterproof membrane that we use along the sides of most of our shoes in the Green Toe category. It helps keep the water out.
Post-consumer Recycled Paper
All of our boxes and footforms are made from 100% post consumer recycled paper. This means all of the paper we use in our boxes is made of paper other people have used. By using PCR paper we are able to recycle a material and extend its useful life.
Recycled Car Tires
Have you ever thought about what happens to car tires once they've completed their useful life on the wheels of your car? Best case scenario is that the tires get recycled... worse case scenario is they wind up in a landfill or worse, incinerated.
We've figured out a way to take used car tires and turn them into the outsoles of our shoes. Besides being super durable and grippy, we're extending the life of a material that is otherwise considered trash. And did we mention we can make 6 pairs of men's size 9 shoes from a single car tire? Pretty nifty, right?
Recycled Bike Tires
Bike Tires.... little circular pieces of rubber that roll around on the ground attached to your bike.
We've found a way to re-use the rubber for heel and toe bumpers that would otherwise become fodder for a landfi ll... it's what Bob likes to call a win-win situation.
