Be eco-comfy with these bamboo slippers
These eco-friendly bamboo slippers from Totes are both comfy and stylish – easy on your feet and on the planet! Bamboo is one of the most eco-friendly materials around: unlike cotton, it does not need intensive farming or chemicals to thrive (non-organic cotton is one of the most chemical-intensive textiles to produce). A fast growing and sustainable crop, bamboo is being used more and more in clothing. It is especially ideal for footwear as it is breathable, deodorising and cool, as well as being naturally anti-bacterial. These bamboo slippers are machine washable and biodegradable, and are made from a bamboo-based viscose and polyester mix. The bamboo clog slippers are also lightweight, soft and durable, with a unique insole for added padding, which means extra comfort! Isotoner is a subsidiary of well-known brand Totes, so you can be assured that the slippers are well-made and of the quality you associate with the Totes brand – and of course, this means they last longer, which further reduces waste as they need replacing less often. Isotoner’s eco-friendly range is designed with ethical sourcing, sustainability and the environment as priorities – as well as using sustainable and eco-friendly materials for the slippers themselves, Isotoner also uses recycled cardboard for the packaging, further lessening the environmental impact. So when you wear these comfy, stylish bamboo slippers, not only will your feet be happy, so will the planet!
Simple TOEst boots – eco-friendly footwear
If you’re a fan of Ugg boots, but you’re not that happy with the idea of wearing sheepskin, you will love these super comfy TOEst high knitted boots from Simple. Ugg boots have been a celebrity favourite for years now, and have raised the bar for comfortable footwear – but for many people, wearing sheepskin is an ethical no-no. If this is true for you, Simple TOEst boots are the answer to your – and your feet’s – prayers! Practical, durable and as comfy as a pair of Uggs, these TOEst boots have the eco-advantage in that they are made from hemp (coated in beeswax to make them more water resilient) with a hemp/organic cotton blend knitted shaft to pull up or down, depending on the look you are after, making these adaptable as well as eco-friendly. Stylish and contemporary, Simple TOEst boots use hemp because it is the ideal fabric for footwear – a strong, durable and breathable fibre that is also eco-friendly because, unlike non-organic cotton – which is a chemically-intensive fabric to produce – hemp doesn’t need chemicals and intensive farming procedures to produce. This means that as well as being kind to your feet, Simple TOEst boots are kind to the environment – so why not treat yourself to a pair? They’ll certainly make walking around doing all that Christmas shopping a bit more bearable.
Eco-friendly outdoor clothing from Patagonia
Now that the clocks have gone back and autumn in truly upon us, a warm coat seems a vital investment – but it can be hard to find warm winter clothing with good eco-credentials. Step forward outdoor and technical clothing company Patagonia, who do a range of stylish jackets and coats suitable for the British outdoors and all that it can throw at us, without compromising on green ethics. Starting out as a one-man company that made tools for climbers, Patagonia remains a major name for climbing, surfing and outdoor apparel, but the simple, stylish lines of its clothes have won it a broader audience. Patagonia uses recycled polyester and organic cotton in many of its clothes; for example, its Isotope Parka is made from double-layered 50% recycled polyester, incorporating a wear-alone vest filled with 90% recycled Thermogreen insulation and has a 50% recycled polyester waterproof/breathable barrier – making it perfect for hill walking or just navigating a rainy city afternoon. Likewise, its lightweight stormproof jacket (available for both men and women) comprises a 2-layer fabric with a 100% recycled-polyester hanging mesh and 100% recycled polyester taffeta liner. The company produces a wide range of clothes for men and women: fleeces, organic cotton t-shirts, flannel shirts, trainers and walking shoes, organic cotton yoga pants for women, dresses made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, cord trousers for men and bright, stylish tops for women. All are made to the same high eco standards, reflecting the company’s Mission Statement: “Build the best product, do no unnecessary harm, use business to inspire and implement solutions to the environmental crisis.” Given Patagonia’s strong ties to the natural environment, it isn’t surprising that the company donates time, services and money (at least 1% of sales) to environmental groups. So you can keep dry and warm this winter, without giving up your high eco standards.
From car tyres to flip flops – reusing rubber to make stylish shoes
Discarded tyres are an eco-menace, taking hundreds of years to decompose, but around the world some manufacturers are recycling these old tyres into fashion statements, by turning them into stylish flip flops. With Brazil often considered the home of the flip flop, it shouldn’t be surprising that one of these companies is based in Rio de Janeiro. With an estimated 20 million tyres a year discarded in Brazil, footwear company Amazon is finding innovative ways to reuse old tyres. It collects, chips and reforms tyres into eco-friendly and fashionable sandals and flip flops, making these some of the greenest shoes around. Combining recycling and fair trade, Rebearth eco-friendly fair trade sandals are made by a collective of workers in Nairobi, Kenya. These workers take old tyres and cut and mould them by hand, combining with locally grown organic cotton and unworn recycled leather to create simple, stylish shoes that are easy on your feet and your conscience.
Of course, it’s not just rubber and leather that can be recycled in this way, and large manufacturers are also getting in on the idea. Take Levi, who now produce affordable, stylish and eco-friendly trainers made from old pairs of Levi jeans. As each pair of shoes differs slightly according to the source material, they are totally unique, so they’re good for the planet and good for your image!
