Gucci jumps on Eco-Friendly bandwagon

Gucci's sustainable soles for men

High end designer Manolo Blahnik introduced eco-friendly shoes in 2011, and now Gucci is the latest brand to announce an environmentally-friendly line of shoes: Sustainable Soles. According to the Gucci’s Creative Director, Frida Giannini, the new line of ‘green’ shoes includes two styles, one for men and one for women, both made of biodegradable, recyclable plastic.
Women can enjoy a ballerina-style flat with cutout details and the trademark GG symbol. The men’s shoes are sneakers that will be available in both low and high top styles, featuring vegetable-tanned calfskin and the Gucci label printed on recycled polyester. The line is expected to hit flagship Gucci stores at the end of June.

So what exactly are eco-friendly shoes? If the shoes have been designed, produced and sold in a manner that is considered to be environmentally friendly, then they can be considered eco-friendly shoes. Similar to these shoes are ‘vegetarian’ or ‘vegan’ shoes which are produced using no animal by-products. Brands that boast vegan status claim that the production of these shoes have a reduced impact on the environment and use less time and resources. Other brands use organic materials such as natural latex rather than synthetics, or manufacturing processes that reduce energy consumption.

Gucci's sustainable soles for women

One specific process that has been praised is leather made from eco-friendly manufacturing methods. Traditional leather tanning procedures are chemical intensive and produce large amounts of toxic waste, not to mention the significant power and water use. Shoes made from eco-friendly leather are tanned with natural tannins. While it takes longer, it significantly cuts down on energy consumption and unsavory chemical usage.

If you’re interested in taking part in the eco-friendly shoe movement, consider doing some research before you buy. Checking labels for USDA Certified Organic will ensure that you are in fact, reducing your carbon footprint. Even though a small portion of the shoe market is currently considered eco-friendly, the market share is growing and a number of mainstream stores have started to stock eco-friendly shoes.