First, “Jane’s” shoes are fashionable and fun. They’ve been designed by hipsters who took a couple of years to create a collection that’s both practical and trend-setting. Janes come in neutral shades for maximum wardrobe appeal – but the bright, bold insoles (with arch support) will make their own snazzy statement when you slip them off the next time you go through airport security.

They can fold up flat into a sleek carrying case if you travel a lot, or want
to keep a spare set in your purse so you have something stylish to slide into
when you can’t stand to wear your heels another second. They’ll work as well with leggings or jeans as with skirts or capris. I can imagine wearing them shopping, to work, to the movies, or out to dinner with family and friends.

But you know me. Style without substance just ain’t enough for those of us who care about people and the planet as well as products. What sets I Know Jane apart from other shoes is that they are both eco-friendly and empower the women who make them. How? They’re animal-free: no leather or wool here. The upper is made from 70% recycled cotton and 30% PET that comes from recycled plastic bottles.

The outsoles are biodegradable. Water-based glues are used in assembly to
reduce use of conventional adhesives that contain more toxic chemicals.

But there’s more. Most shoes are made in sweatshops by women who could be as young
as 15 years old. These women often lack a voice to stop abuse from shop owners,
abuse that may even include torture and death.
Through its socially responsible business model, I Know
Jane seeks to raise awareness about these women and does not use exploitive labor to assemble their shoes. In fact, I Know Jane’s shoes are made in a small, woman-owned, unionized factory in Brazil.

 I Know Jane is taking pre-orders on their new flats for spring 2013 delivery. You can place your order over at Kickstarter, where I Know Jane’sfounders, Jared (pictured right) and Simon, are selling their shoes and raising $35,000 in investment capital to ramp up production. (In case you don’t know about it,
Kickstarter is a grassroots online tool that lets people like you and me
pre-buy products like Jane’s shoes as a way of investing in companies we believe
in and products we want to support.) You can get a gift certificate if you want
to order a pair of Janes as a holiday gift.

Even if you don’t want to order shoes today, I hope you’ll consider giving I Know Jane a
start with a small contribution. Say Jared and Simon “…whether it’s $10 or $90, any bit
helps!”

One last point: Big Green Purse advocates shifting spending to greener products and
services as a way to protect our health and the health of our world. Investing
in new products like I Know Jane shoes is a perfect example of how we can make
our money matter.

The post These “Green” Shoes Will Fight Sweat Shops with Fashion – If You Give Them a Kick Start appeared first on Big Green Purse.

What is it? Feelgoodz flip-flops are made of 100% natural rubber that’s harvested from the Yang Para tree in Thailand, where the flip-flops are also produced.  Biodegradable and 100% recyclable, these comfortable flip-flops come in 5 different color combos and are available worldwide through their website. I particularly like the “Twilight” choice, pictured left, which Feelgoodz has designed especially for brides looking to be comfortable at their weddings!

What I like: Feelgoodz flip-flops are made from biodegradable natural rubber, hemp, bamboo, and recycled paper; its display hangers are recycled, too.  The company belongs to the Ashoka network, a global association of the world’s leading social entrepreneurs.  Through their relationship with Ashoka, Feelgoodz has developed a plan to donate 1% of profits to the planet, 1% to the Fair Trade Natural Rubber Program in Thailand, and 1% to the Phitsanulok community that inspired founder Kyle Berner when he worked there several years ago.   I’ve been wearing a pair of the “moon” flip-flops for several weeks, and find the rubber to be very soft and cushiony.  They have not completely molded to my feet just yet, but it is clear from the softness of the rubber that they will.

What could be improved? Because Feelgoodz is a very young company, you can only purchase their products in a handful of retail stores in Louisiana, Hawaii, Oregon, and Maine.  We’d like to see them replace the throwaway flip-flops found in most big-box outlets.  The website is confusing: it shows a great variety of color combos, but only sells five options. Are those coming soon? Hard to say. The company claims the product is recyclable and biodegradable, but where’s the proof? If I wanted to recycle my Feelgoodz flip-flops, where would I send them? How long does it take for them to biodegrade? Back up the claims, please.

Product comparison:

Havaianas – Feelgoodz’ rubber flip-flop style reminds me a lot of the sandals I regularly wear, Havaianas. While Havaianas offer more colors and are available in many local retail outlets, the company makes its product from synthetic as well as natural rubber and says nothing on its website about its commitment to Fair Trade or environmental sustainability.

Rainbow Sandals – One environmentally-friendly aspect of Rainbow leather flip-flops is the lifetime guarantee they provide for the soles of their products.  Keeping one pair of flip-flops in usable condition for a lifetime is a great way to reduce the waste generated by discarding old or broken pairs.  Rainbow also manufactures flip-flops made out of hemp. All their sandals are “triple glued” to keep the soles intact; it was hard to find any information on the environmental impact generated by the glue.

Simple Shoes produces an eco-friendly flip flop called Gumbo, for women and men.  These sandals are made of sustainable hemp, carpet padding, recycled car tire, and natural jute.  They are also vegan-friendly and are shipped in a post consumer recycled box.  Simple Shoes are carried at many nationwide retailers like Nordstrom and Journeys.

BTW, here’s more info on eco shoe styles.

Price comparison
Feelgoodz – $19.99.
Top Havaianas – $18.00.
Rainbow Wide Strap Leather Sandals – $42.50.
Simple Gumbo Sandals – $50.

How many purses?
Two and a half.  Feelgoodz says on its website, “We’re not environmentalists, but we’re doing our part.”  That’s what Big Green Purse is all about, encouraging manufacturers to adopt more sustainable practices. Feelgoodz is ahead of the curve. Show us some documentation on your environmental claims and we’ll feel not just good but great about making this a three-purse review!

By Katie Kelleher (with oversight from Diane MacEachern)

Full Disclosure: FeelGoodz provided Big Green Purse with one free pair of flip flips to review, at a value of around $20. The flip flops were worn by our unpaid student intern Katie Kelleher for several weeks before she wrote the review. They will be kept by Katie since who else would want to wear them at this point?

The post Environmental In-Box: Feelgoodz Flip-Flops appeared first on Big Green Purse.

But as Rachel Sarnoff, CEO and Founder, EcoStiletto.com, points out in this guest column, greening your closet doesn’t stop at your ankles. Here’s what Rachel recommends for the shoes in your life:

“Obviously, the greenest thing to do when you’re updating your closet is to start with vintage stores. But I’ll be the first to admit: Although reusing and recycling can go a long way towards reducing your “footprint,” because most shoes mold to their wearer’s feet, it can be difficult to find pre-worn pumps and other footwear that fit right.

Most shoes are made from conventionally processed leather. And processed leather is a by-product of the meat industry, a resource-intensive business that consumes 25% of our world’s land surface and one-third of our grain while generating a majority of our carbon emissions: 18 percent —that’s more than cars. Processing leather from meat animals adds environmental insult to injury, given that it requires an estimated 225 toxic chemicals during the tanning process.

What to do?

Choose “Eco-Leather” – If you do plan to buy new and still want to wear leather, look for shoes made from so-called “eco-leather,” leather tanned without heavy metals like chrome. Reputable companies will also recycled materials and packaging. Consider El Naturalista (www.elnaturalista.com), Coclico (www.shopcoclico.com) and PURE by Rickard Shah (www.rickardshah.com).

Try “Faux” Leather – With so many faux leathers and suedes out there, it’s easy to eliminate leather completely from your footwear repertoire. Consider shoes made from dioxin-free polyurethane (a slightly more environmentally-friendly option than PVC) or natural elements like hemp. Kailia (www.kailiafootwear.com) and Charmone (www.charmoneshoes.com) both manufacture completely vegan shoe lines in artisan factories in Italy, but it’s the hemp Nadia Ankle Boot from Sui Generis by Beyond Skin (www.endless.com) that we EcoStilettoistas are head over heels for.

Don’t Forget Birkenstocks – Oh and about those Birkenstocks, the symbol of social consciousness since 1966: They’re leather, but the company uses every ounce of its scraps, and recycles the cork from the soles. (www.birkenstockusa.com) Plus, with the right outfit, today’s Birkies can look downright chic.

Want a smaller carbon footprint? Beginning in January 2009, www.EcoStiletto.com will give away a free pair (or pairs) of eco-friendly shoes worth $500 or more each and every month! Get on the list now, and get the lowdown on shrinking your carbon footprint from an Ugg boot to a Manolo with daily green fashion, beauty, lifestyle, parenting, celebrity and eco-events nationwide.”

Thanks, Rachel!

For more ideas on sustainably made, shoes, don’t miss these links! 

The post Think Eco-Shoes Stop at Birkenstocks? Think Again. appeared first on Big Green Purse.