Are you looking for the next sneakers to invest in and trying to understand what is the best alternative to respect nature and your ecological values? You are lost between classic leather, vegan leather, natural rubber, made in France etc. ? We explain everything to you for maximum transparency without ever compromising on style.

 

The composition of a sneaker

 

To fully understand what we are talking about when we mention the environmental impact of sneakers, you must first understand how sneakers are made.

 

• Top/stem

The upper of the sneaker is the outer part that covers the top of the foot. In terms of style, this is probably the most important part along with the colors, cutouts and brand logo. This part can be made of many different materials and is often made up of several of them. We mainly find: leather, suede, mesh, cotton canvas, synthetic materials but also new fibers such as vegan leather.

 

• Sole

The sole is the lower part of the sneaker that comes into contact with the ground. It is often made of rubber or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate) foam, providing cushioning and a comfortable grip. The soles may also feature special patterns for better traction and wear resistance.

We tell you more about the types of soles, their characteristics and their environmental impact in our article:

 

• Lining

Inside the sneaker there is a lining that surrounds the foot for greater comfort. This lining can be made of soft fabric, breathable mesh or synthetic materials. It helps to keep the foot in place and absorb moisture.

 

• Laces and eyelets

The laces and eyelets are the elements that allow the sneaker to close around the foot. Laces are usually made of cotton, polyester, or nylon, and eyelets can be metal or plastic. Some sneaker models use different closing systems such as Velcro or elastic to make it easier to put on.

 

• Buttress

The counter is the rigid part at the back of the sneaker that holds the heel in place. It is often reinforced to provide good support and prevent the foot from slipping during walking or sporting activities.

 

• Insole 

The insole, or sockliner, is the layer of cushioning located inside the sneaker, directly under the foot. It can be removable or integrated into the shoe. The insole provides additional comfort and can sometimes be designed with antimicrobial materials to prevent odor.

 

By understanding these different parts, you can better appreciate the process of designing and manufacturing sneakers, as well as the material choices that can influence their performance and durability.

 

When a brand chooses its components, it generally takes into account the cost and technical characteristics. Technical characteristics which are essential for durable and quality sneakers since they guarantee that a shoe is waterproof, lightweight, wear-resistant or even breathable. So when the environmental impact is added, obviously understanding whether a sneaker is truly eco-responsible becomes a headache.

 

The challenges of eco-responsibility for sneakers

You will have understood, it is easier to make a t-shirt that respects the environment than a pair of shoes. But more and more brands have been looking into the issue in recent years, developing new materials and moving forward step by step to create ever more eco-responsible sneakers. But we're not going to teach you, the perfect sneaker doesn't exist (yet).

For example, the production of vegan leather releases much less CO2 than that of classic leather, but it is a material that is very poorly recyclable. Conversely, classic leather often uses chemicals for its tanning but it is generally of better quality and will last for years or even decades. In short, you will have to choose your battle.

 

Tips for choosing your next sneakers consciously:

• Favors brands whose respect for the environment is one of their primary values.

• Check that the brand gives you the composition of each part of the shoe. A composition that only takes into account one element of the sneaker is not transparent enough to be able to make a choice.

• Look at the place of manufacture to ensure that the product has been manufactured while respecting the planet but also humans.

 

By doing this, you can already ensure that the sneakers you buy have been developed and manufactured by a brand whose primary objective is to do its best to respect the environment and above all to be completely transparent with you.

What are the most eco-friendly shoe brands? We offer you an alternative to the Veja sneaker

There are many eco-responsible sneaker brands on the French market which innovate with ecological materials, each one more efficient than the last. We have chosen to focus on two brands of eco-responsible sneakers that we particularly like: MEEKO and MoEa. Something to change your Veja.

MEEKO: Ethical sneakers with style

MEEKO is the brand of eco-responsible sneakers that places respect for living things and the animal cause at the heart of its DNA. From design to end of life, including the choice of materials and production locations, nothing is left to chance by the brand.

Meeko models are first and foremost an invitation to reconnect with forgotten nature. This invitation can be found on the colorful design of the labels and soles of the sneakers. With each Our sneakers are first of all an invitation to think about this forgotten nature, through the colorful illustrations on our labels, insoles and boxes.

MEEKO combines urban designs with technical features inspired by the outdoors for eco-responsible sneakers to wear everywhere and adapt to all styles.

MoEa: Vegan sneakers or nothing

For the MoEa brand, the ecological material par excellence must be vegan. Calculating the carbon footprint of their models is of great importance in their production. Handmade sneakers in Portugal in the Porto region, short circuits in Europe with materials from Italy, use of sustainable materials such as grape marc: the brand has thought of everything for its eco-responsible sneakers.

The vision of Rafale Market 

At Rafale, for our clothes, as for our accessories or our shoes, we advocate sustainable fashion . This means that we are completely transparent with you and that we are not going to lie to you by telling you that we are perfect and that we have solved all the eco-responsibility problems.

Instead, we meticulously sort each of the products you find in the e-shop for you, balancing style, eco-responsible fashion and feasibility. On a case-by-case basis, we ask ourselves whether this product is the best option we can offer you. Because we will never compromise on style, but also not on our environmental impact and there are limits to take into account, such as accessibility to eco-responsible materials, technical needs or know-how.

We cannot make you an expert in eco-responsibility in a single article, but you will be able to find explanations on the choice of models offered to you throughout your shopping.

So, are you ready to put on a pair of sneakers that make sense?