True sustainability due to durability & longevity of our products
Sustainable shoes in the basic concept of the company and product philosophy and the implementation in development and production
Sustainability in the selection of environmentally friendly materials and the manufacture of our shoes:
Our natural leathers are tanned in an environmentally friendly way without harmful chemicals according to strict requirements and thus differ significantly from other products. They are extremely kind to the skin; the tannage takes place without chromium and heavy metal, without the addition of PCP or formaldehyde; Solvents are no longer contained even in the finish. Despite this gentle refinement of the natural material leather, we have succeeded in meeting the highest technical standards while maintaining the natural character of the hides.
Wearing properties, functionality and process optimization of our sustainable shoes:
The dyeing is also done without the use of toxic heavy metals, PCP, formaldehyde, glyoxal or the like. This should actually be a matter of course, but the use of these substances is still common worldwide even for high-priced branded products. Due to the special tanning, our natural leathers retain the natural properties of the skin, i.e. they are particularly breathable and temperature-regulating, are dimensionally stable, skin-friendly and can be composted without leaving any residue. This is the secret of the outstanding wearing properties of our sustainable shoes. In order to achieve the best possible foot climate in cmbination with the breathable leathers, we have designed the shoes accordingly. Our natural leathers are finished and polished by hand, which creates a depth of color in the upper leather that is no longer possible with conventionally coated leathers due to the synthetic surface finishing. The natural leathers are therefore the most skin-friendly and functional material for shoes, which is also biodegradable. All previous vegan materials except natural cork, which does not have the same functionality as natural leather, do not meet the requirements for sustainability. The sensible use of the hides through the full utilization of the livestock and the additional benefits also correspond to the concept of sustainability.
Longevity as part of our sustainable footwear concept:
When selecting materials and components, we also pay attention to short transport routes; most of the suppliers are located within a radius of 20 kilometers longevity In our products we combine traditional handcrafted shoemaking with highly resilient sustainable materials. This is where our products differ significantly from simply produced and uniform mass-produced goods. The production facility for our sustainably manufactured shoes is located in Portugal. In the factory, our shoes are still carefully handcrafted. Production is supported by machines, while the shoe is still being processed by hand in each work step.
The vast majority of our shoes are made with state-of-the-art shoe manufacturing in sewn lastings; such as „Good Year - welted“, „Blake“, Moccasin and edge sewn through lasting. Just the elegant groups of the women's shoes are mounted in Ago lastings mainly by hand and not additionally sewn between the upperleather part and the outsole. The men's shoes are regularily sewn in the traditional way of craftmenship, with the upper leather leg being fixed to the sole with an additional sturdy seam. This provides to the shoe more stability and, with the appropriate care, a longer lifespan. The additional reinforcement by the seam supports the natural rolling movement of the foot, making the shoes even more comfortable.
This is where our products differ significantly from simply produced and uniform mass-produced goods. In the factory, our high-quality shoes are still made in a traditional way and carefully handcrafted. Production is supported by machines, while the shoe is still being processed by hand in each work step. In connection with the carefully selected materials and the components developed by us, our shoes, with appropriate care, are much longer durable than simply produced and uniform mass-produced goods, especially in comparison to the footwear mainly offered on the market from the Far East. The materials and components we use and relate to are geared towards longevity, which not only makes the product more valuable, but also reduces the need to purchase a new product more often and to dispose of the old one. This is a crucial approach to make our shoes sustainable.
Social standards in the production of our sustainable shoes:
In our production, social standards are of course complied in accordance with occupational safety, employee representatives and the authorities. Through the clear orientation of production and the procurement of materials and components within the European community, we secure jobs on site, keep transport routes short, and of course adhere to the obligation of collectively agreed wages, minimum wages and all regulations for working hours and workplace design.
Our natural leathers are tanned in Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal according to our specifications. We also purchase all important components from our partners in these countries in order to succeed in manufacturing our Naturleder-Schuhwerk shoes entirely within Europe in compliance with all known standards.
