» Tread lightly: Eco-friendly footwear
Zara Baker finds eco-friendly footwear doesn’t mean a compromise on fashion
What do women want? Far too many things to list here, that’s for sure, but for all the Carrie Bradshaws out there, the latest fashionable shoes are probably near the top of the list. Meanwhile, eco-chicks want environmentally friendly footwear that looks good, too, and we would all like something that is ultra comfy – just for once.
It may be an ambitious wish list, and extremely rare to find all three in one, but many retailers are keeping a close eye on fashion, while remaining on the good side of Mother Nature.
Healthwise, ill-fitting shoes can be bad news for the feet – but women have always risked it in the name of fashion. The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists found that 37 per cent of women bought shoes that didn’t fit them during the summer sales simply because they ‘looked good’. With the compromise we make for fashion (blisters and bunions being only two common problems), it’s time to treat your feet to something better.
Eco Sneaks are 100 per cent sustainable, manufactured using silk (natural protein fibre), organic cotton, recycled polyethylene terephthalate laces and recycled car tyres for the outer soles. Oh, and they come in a recycled box, too. The new season styles for women are bright, funky and may just convert some Converse devotees.
Love-eco.co.uk is a pioneer in the eco-chic world of fashion. The Po-Zu Buto shoe is made for indoors, but we equally love wearing them outside, teamed with leggings and an oversized jumper. The boots are 99 per cent bio-degradable, using natural materials free from harsh chemicals. The foot-mattress filler is 60 per cent coconut husk, and 40 per cent natural latex, while the sole is 100 per cent latex. The Po-Zu slippers/boots even come in a biodegradable coconut box to grow your own seeds in!
Vivo Barefoot take the concept that healthwise, we benefit from being barefoot (after all, it’s what nature intended), and provide footwear to recreate this. After all, negotiating the city streets barefooted is never going to work. Instead, their shoes have an ultra thin puncture-resistant sole, and are soft and flexible so our feet move in the way they would if we have nothing on them at all. The inner sole is shaped to encorage a natural, fluid motion with each step (think ball to heel to toe) and actively realigns your natural posture and strengthen the muscles in your feet. Every nerve ending in the body is stimulated, enhancing the individual’s sensory perception. All this from a shoe? What’s more, the range is extensive and stylish, available for both men and women.
For those who love the latest shoe trends but don’t want to sacrifice comfort, swaptopshoes.com is a new website launching in October to offer different shoe uppers to fit one sole. Killer high heels can be worn with handmade padded leather soles for comfort – this already sounds too good to be true. Mark 20 October in the diary as this is when the site goes live.
Care for your feet and the environment in one go: now that’s an easy habit to slip your feet into.
