Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back
Slide Nr 1A pair of shoes can be a lot more than functional or stylish – with the right cause in mind, they can be kind and generous, too. Whether it’s donating a pair of shoes to people who don’t have any, helping the artisans who make them through employment and education, or protecting the environment and reducing ecological damage, these footwear brands are taking a step forward and making the world a better place, one high-quality pair of shoes at a time.
0/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 2Roma – This women’s and kids’ boot brand has a clear mission: to give children living in poverty a pair of boots that protects their feet not only from rain and cold weather, but also from harsh elements that expose them to cuts, insect bites, infections and parasites. Roma’s founder, Samuel Bistrian, is “giving poverty the boot” with the company’s Buy One Give One model – for every pair purchased, another is donated. But Roma is not only giving children in need access to high-quality footwear, they’re also investing in education and creating jobs in the communities they serve. So far they’ve donated over five million dollars’ worth of boots in 30 different countries, and the numbers are only going up.
1/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 3Native Shoes – Another brand committed to making the planet a bit healthier, Native Shoes’ goal is for each and every pair to be 100% life-cycle-managed by 2023. Their flagship recycling programme – the Native Shoes Remix Project™ – has transformed over 35,000 worn-out shoes to create five playgrounds for local children in Vancouver, Canada. Their design team is also pioneering the use of innovative and plant-based technologies such as Rise by Bloom – harvesting toxic algae from their waterways and recycling it into their shoes, returning clean water and fresh air in the process. From boots to flats and sandals, all for men, women and kids, they’ve got everything covered – both in terms of footwear and sustainability.
2/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 4Allbirds – From the start, this New Zealand sneaker brand has been committed to having a good impact on the planet. Through the use of regenerative agriculture, natural materials and clean energy, they’re counterweighting the environmental price of each pair of shoes they produce. They’re also transparent: every pair of Allbirds lists its CO2 footprint right on the product label, based on materials, manufacturing, use and transport – as they put it, it’s a nutritional label for your shoes, so you know exactly what you’re wearing and how it’s impacting the environment. Did we mention they make some of the comfiest shoes on the market? Yes, that too.
3/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 5MyCause Brand – The tough-as-nails founder and designer of MyCause Brand, Jimmy Stephens, is an inspiring figure, having battled advanced-stage cancer not once but three times. Now he’s giving back: With every pair of shoes purchased, MyCause Brand donates 10% of the profit to a foundation or organisation. The best part is that you, as a customer, get to pick the cause you’d like to support, from treatment of mental illness to paediatric conditions, all types of cancer, or even bullying, among many, many others. To top it off, the shoes are made from high-quality sustainable materials and the sole is filled with uplifting words that accompany you every step of the way – literally.
4/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 7Brethren Shoes – As its name implies, Brethren Shoes helps a fellow in need. After volunteering at a homeless shelter and witnessing the difficult situation of homeless men in the US, CEO Tian Mu decided to do some good the best way he knew how: through shoes. The brand sells a variety of trendy casual and dress shoes for men made from animal-friendly fabrics, and for every purchase, they donate a pair of sneakers or boots, specifically designed for the homeless population. They have recently started to design gender-neutral alternatives to also help women in need.
6/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 8Zou Xou – Zou Xou is a living example of how shoes can be not only practical and versatile, but also meaningful. Their goal is to make their (generally female) customers feel confident, empowered and connected to something that goes beyond a pair of footwear. And while they’re making women feel better, they’re also promoting a safe and fair work environment for their artisans in rural Argentina, who negotiate their own wages and set their own hours. To make their business model even better – and kinder – they make shoes by hand to minimise the carbon footprint and avoid overproduction, focusing instead on real quality that will last for generations.
7/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 9The Root Collective – As a purpose-driven person, Root Collective founder Bethany Tran left her corporate job to pursue a different calling: to make the world a better place. She created her ethical footwear brand with the only objective of creating jobs for Guatemalan communities in need. The brand model centres on partnerships with independent workshops, where every artisan is paid between 50-400% over the fair trade standard minimum. Not only is The Root Collective giving customers a well-made pair of shoes, but they’re making a positive impact on rural communities.
8/10
Style
Stepping Up: 10 Footwear Brands That Give Back.
Slide Nr 11Fortress of Inca – Inspired by a pair of boots originally bought in Peru in 2005, the creators of this brand decided to take their talent, craftsmanship, creativity and high-quality materials to the US. Their timeless collections – which include boots, flats, mules and sandals – are all made by local artisans in Peru, and the way they give back is by putting those skilled shoemakers first. Fortress of Inca partners with artisans who have lost their jobs or can’t afford their own workshop, giving them the opportunity to work under fair conditions, with the added bonus of having their own collections named after them – so they get all the credit for their incredible work.
10/10
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.