The Parisian model that began with a imaginative and prescient to make a shoe fully in Brazil utilizing ethically sourced supplies crossed one other benchmark this week: it launched its very first technical climbing shoe.
Though Veja’s first kinds have been centered round on a regular basis put on, their newest addition — the Fitz Roy— takes them into a complete new class, whereas retaining alive the dedication to make use of eco-friendly supplies.
The shoe is known as after Fitz Roy, a well-known Patagonia peak, situated on the border of Argentina and Chile, not removed from the place Veja sources its two core uncooked supplies — pure Amazonian rubber and natural cotton.
Whereas this shoe doesn’t function the cotton (as a result of it must be waterproof out within the parts), it does embody wild Amazonian rubber in its sole, a challenge that Veja has been intimately managing for over a decade.
In an effort to make use of pure supplies, and help livelihoods, Veja works with seringueiros within the Amazon to get wild rubber from rubber bushes which are native to the forest. It permits the seringueiros to earn an earnings and to maintain the a lot beloved bushes standing upright amidst the rise of timber harvesting and cattle rearing, which have been decimating the area.
This technical shoe was designed after a collaboration with Vibram, an Italy firm identified for his or her sturdy rubber soles. Climbing footwear should be grippy and difficult. Veja introduced that stability collectively in a design that’s roomy, easy-to-wear, and ultimate for expeditions.
Provided that Veja co-founder Sebastien Kopp isn’t a fan of sustainability, however transparency, the supplies used within the shoe are disclosed, right down to the precise percentages so that customers can know precisely what they’re getting — and Veja could be clear about how a lot “sustainable” materials they’re really utilizing.
The uppers are product of 100% recycled polyester that’s waterproof however freed from PFCs, chemical compounds that the out of doors trade has traditionally relied on to make their items repel water.
The only real’s contents are damaged down by its three layers. The insole has 12% Amazonian rubber, and 47% sugar cane. The midsole has 50% sugar cane. And the outsole is 31% Amazonian rubber.
The complete shoe is almost 50% (effectively 43% to be precise) bio-based. And Veja hopes to maintain rising that proportion with every passing 12 months as improvements in renewable supplies progress.
Completely made in Brazil, like their different kinds, the supplies are transported to the corporate’s facility in Porto Alegre. From right here on out, they’re shipped by way of sea (Veja abstains from air shipments due to the heavy carbon footprint).
Sure, it’s one other climbing shoe within the crowded footwear market. However its origin story is definitely distinctive.
In the end, Veja continues to construct out a profile of footwear that meet fashionable wants, and but maintain its aim in the direction of constructing a extra ecologically-friendly firm on the forefront. They usually’re first to confess, it’s not excellent—not but, a minimum of.