One of the biggest ways in which we can lead a more sustainable and zero-waste life is by re-purposing and up-cycling things we would have otherwise discarded. On that note, The sheer number of shoes we buy and discard are not so easy on the environment, to put it mildly! While it’s important to be conscious of what we buy and not go on a mindless shopping spree; it would also help if we knew how our shoes are manufactured, where do they come form and who makes it.
PAADUKS
Paaduks is a cruelty-free, leather-free and eco-friendly shoe manufacturing company. They up-cycle rubber from discarded tires, used conveyor belts and old rubber mats to make the sole, and use it with natural vegan fabrics like cotton and jute. This prevents a lot of waste from filling up the landfills. Up-cycling rubber does not involve chemical processes which means lower carbon footprint in their manufacturing process.
While Paaduks is an attempt to make eco-friendly footwear, they also envision a prosperous cobbler community. The cobbler community is often exploited by retailers and wholesalers. They are required to invest in the production and they get paid meagre amounts for their efforts. This spirals them into never ending debt cycles. Paaduks engages the cobbler community for manufacturing their footwear, adhere to guidelines of internationally agreed FAIRTRADE standards, and pay them a fair price for their skill and efforts.
They have a wide range of beautifully handcrafted, environment friendly range of footwear for men and women.
Check out their collection here.
Website: http://www.paaduks.com/