Eco-Roundup: Shoes

By Suzanne Singer
May 4, 2010

When it comes to green fashion, shoes may just be the hardest element to get right. The most luscious pairs are, after all, usually made of cow leather, one of the carbon-costliest materials known to man. There are also many complicated steps that go into the creation of good shoes—from the sourcing of the component parts to fitting all the various pieces together—making it extremely difficult to eco-friendly-up the entire production line. Naturally, The Inside Source was thrilled to chat with three top designers who are making green shoes look good. They shared their inspirations with us and told us how they manage to design, create, and produce their fashionable collections, all while preserving the planet.

Cri De Coeur

Top Row: Gina Ferraraccio and Julie Dicterow with Cri de Couer shoes

Bottom Row, Ferraracio's eBay Picks: New Crystal Linear Chandelier (buy it now price, $279.00) “We were slightly obsessed with Hollywood Regency when designing [our spring 2010 line], and this chandelier is super glam.” Victorian Wallpaper Border (buy it now price, $12.50) “Super luxe and boudoir-ish!” Lace Bodice (buy it now price, $125.00) “Our spring 2010 season is our sexiest yet, and this chemise is super sexy.”

With this spring marking Cri De Coeur’s fifth season, it’s fair to say that this vegan shoe line is a hit. The latest collection is romantic and feminine, with ballet references toughened up with a harder edge—think bondage ballerina—all made from super high-end (but ethical) materials, including a buttery new ultrasuede crafted from recycled plastic. Not ones to rest on their ecological laurels, designers Gina Ferraraccio and Julie Dicterow just launched a more affordable line called Hearts of Darkness by Cri de Coeur. “More and more, customers were asking for vegan options at lower prices, so I decided to develop the diffusion line,” Ferraraccio says. “I believe that the $100 price point is an area where there is huge demand and room for growth.” Classic styles with a modern twist are offered in satins and faux suedes and leathers.

Form & Fauna

Top row: Bay Bertea with Form & Fauna shoes.

Bottom row, Bertea's eBay picks: 1970s Vintage Halter Top Pattern Butterick (buy it now price, $18.99) “Vintage sewing patterns act as an inspiration because I like the simpler times of self-sufficiency and domestic creativity. There's a sweet reclamation currently going on in the domestic sphere—home cooked meals, backyard chickens, canning, etc.—and I think it's fine time that we all familiarize ourselves once again with a needle and thread. The Swinger is made for this halter top look—fresh, disco hip, timeless.” Joni Mitchell Blue Vinyl LP (buy it now price, $44.99) “One of the F&F soundtracks would be ‘Blue,’ but more during the design phase, when sketching various styles with a glass of wine. My aural muse, Joni, would wear the Mommo in grass.” New Levi's Vintage 1970 Flare Stretch Jeans (buy it now price, $39.99) “These jeans inspire me with their feminine lines and ‘Boogie Nights’ vibe. I would pair them with a something macrame on top and the Solstice sandals.”

Form & Fauna designer Bay Bertea has a very specific idea about consumption: less is most definitely more. In order to put that mantra into practice, she makes sure that the shoes in Form & Fauna are not only fashionable and eco-friendly (all shoes are made from sustainable materials like organic cotton, hemp and vintage fabrics), but also able to withstand all of life’s demands (from walking to work, to dancing under the stars). All shoes are handmade in Los Angeles to support local craftspeople, and even the heels are eco-fabulous, fabricated from second generation scrap wood and water-based glues. The spring collection’s theme is “warm summer nights of the ’70s with a modern twist,” so Bertea scoured eBay and found items with that same slinky disco vibe.

Neuaura

Top row: Arti Upadhyay with Neuaura shoes.

Bottom row, Upadhyay's eBay picks: Chiffon Dress (starting bid, $9.99) “The hues and patterns on this dress are beautiful and work really well together. I love incorporating watery, earthy hues into spring footwear. The style then becomes very versatile and gives you that stepping into spring feel." Raffia Clutch (buy it now price, $79.00) “This handbag has such beautiful, rich colors balanced with an earthy wood buckle. I love incorporating jewel tones in shoes as it can give an outfit a splash and this handbag has both jewel tones mixed with the earth tone.” Vintage Silver and Bead Pendant Necklace (buy it now price, $92.00) “This piece of jewelry with the oxidized silver and tribal beads has a real South Asian feel to it. It would look interesting to make this piece into a thong sandal piece with deep red footbed and outsole.”

Shoe line Neuaura, designed by Arti Upadhyay, is steadfast in its environmentally-conscious mission. It uses materials local to the Brazilian mountains (where its factory is based) to reduce the use of transportation and fuel in making the shoes; relies on water-based glues and recycles all of its waste. In honor of these pristine practices, the Neuaura factory was recently awarded a Green Seal from the Brazilian Technological Institute for Leather, Shoes and Accessories. As if all of that wasn’t enough green cred, the company is also a member of Um Amanha Maiz Feliz (or A Happier Tomorrow), an association formed to preserve and promote environmentally clean processes, and additionally encourages recycling and protecting habitats for endangered species.

**Images of designers and their products provided by featured designers.**

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