Ethical Sneakers

[corey]

The whole sweatshop labor issue has been playing on my mind recently. I've been searching for sneakers that are made in countries with decent labor legislation. I'm hoping that this thread can serve as a list.

So far I have:

Blackspot Sneaker (Portugese union shop)

https://secure.adbusters.org/orders/sneaker/

Common Projects (Italy)

http://www.commonprojects.com/

Cause (Japan)

http://zozo.jp/shop/flauge/goods.html?cid=1522

Veja (Brazilian union shop)

http://www.veja.fr/

No Sweat (Indo union shop)

http://nosweatapparel.com/

Terraplana (Lots of good social-enviro projects)

http://www.terraplana.com/

Simple (Made from sustainable and recycled meterials)

http://www.simpleshoes.com/

The Generic Man (Portugal)

http://www.thegenericman.com/

These are of unknown origin, but I'm hoping someone here can shed some insight. I really like the Cedar Crest leather Chucks repros.

Cedar Crest (?)

http://www.cedarcrest.jp/cc/mens_shousai/sports/4001_4005.htm

Ubiq (?)

http://zozo.jp/shop/flauge/goods.html?cid=1795

What about Visvim and Raf Simons? Anything else?

[Guest]

hippie

10char

[upandcoming]

thanks i have been wondering the same!

Terra plana (united nude) has some recycled material shoes, that are worth checking out. I will deff be using this list in the future!!

oh,

http://www.terraplana.com/

http://www.unitednude.com/

[corey]

Those Vans Era repros on the Terra Plana website would be awesome if they were plain white.

[jiomitori]

superfuture sucks

[jiomitori]

superfuture sucks

[corey]

I added Veja and No Sweat to the list.

I really like the Veja Taua. Clean and slim. I'm going to grab a pair and remove the side logo.

Should I bother adding Dior, Lanvin, and Ann D?

jiomitori: We're lucky there are lots of good boots and dress shoes made that are well made under great conditions. Redwings are obviously very popular here.

[sybaritical]

Simple have switched to making ethically conscious footwear.

[Guest jmatsu]

someone fuckin dig up pics of that one early 90'svegan sneaker company. i think it was subzero or some shit... the ones with pics of the happy cow.

[corey]

Added them to the list.

APC made some rad canvas shoes a while back. Are they still doing those? Made in France no? How about the APC x Nike? Same shitty factory?

[iams]

I've been told Dior and APC items are made in Macau (can anyone verify this?). And Burburry and Ralph Lauren items are made in China. Heavens! What's left to wear?

I hate Adbusters' pimping of Blackspot Sneakers. The entire magazine is against advertising and capitalism, yet the magazine seems to be little more than a guerrilla marketing campaign for the company, with every third page devoted to an ad for the shoes.

[corey]

Yeah their marketing is lame. I'm all for globalisation and capitalism. I just don't like chewing up surfs in the process.

[jiomitori]

I really like the Veja Taua. Clean and slim. I'm going to grab a pair and remove the side logo.

Corey, these look great. Where are you getting them from?

Edit: I just saw you live in Sydney. Does anyone know if there is an easy way to get these online from the US?

[sybaritical]

Do a search on treehugger and you'll find plenty of brands making sustainable/ethical shoes and sneakers. Some of them are surprisingly sexy.

[corey]

Corey, these look great. Where are you getting them from?

They have a list of retailers on their website.

http://www.veja.fr/

USA

- Takashimaya NYC, 693 5th Avenue, New York

- American Rag, 160 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles

There's a store in NZ, so I'll contact them during the week and see if they are willing to post me a pair. Else I'll be hitting up Takashimaya

sybaritical: Treehugger is a really nice blog. Thanks for the input.

[corey]

Tretorn harp on about corporate responsibility on their website.

http://www.tretorn.com/

Any ideas where they are made?

[alterion]

The One true saxon shoes i have are made in portugal so you can add them i guess.

[upandcoming]

chaco sandals are made in the us, not sufu material but applicable

[cosmicflop]

I love the Terra Plana products and am fortunate enough to work near to one of their shops. I bought these recently: http://shop.terraplana.com/shoe.aspx?ProductID=345

They look a lot nicer on than they do in the picture. They've also got a sale on at the mo, so some good bargains to be had.

[larssss]

I hate Adbusters' pimping of Blackspot Sneakers. The entire magazine is against advertising and capitalism, yet the magazine seems to be little more than a guerrilla marketing campaign for the company, with every third page devoted to an ad for the shoes.

unrelated side note, but have you ever seen the print media they give out about the shoes? its fucking hilarious. to sum it up it says "don't buy into mainstream corporate culture, buy into our subversive corporate culture"

[corey]

Added The Generic Man.

[Yardsale]

Thank you so much for the list!

I'm looking at getting some blackspot boots myself

and being responsible/green/ethical doesn't mean capitalism has to go out the window. I don't know why people are slamming companies for trying to make a buck while promoting positive practices.

[Originatek]

..i want a pair of veja shoes, I don't see any stores in the US listed. Anyone know how to get them over here?

[cloudhands69]

I think these are cool -terra plana

[eightynine]

what website(s) sell Veja shoes?

[corey]

Veja Stockists:

USA

- Takashimaya NYC, 693 5th Avenue, New York

- American Rag, 160 S. La Brea Avenue, Los Angeles

CANADA

- Rien à Cacher, 4141 Saint-Denis street, Montréal

[culturalmulatto]

I'm surprised nobody has mentioned these so far but, Keep Co. are not only ethically in line, but environmental as well.

Here is the catch: they actually look good! Mostly made for women but make as high as a 10 in mens. I might get me a pair.

Their website is here: http://www.keepcompany.com/