Patagonia is seriously such a cool brand. Their efforts to green their business practices is truly admirable, and I love that that has found its way into their shoes through recycled and organic content! Eco-friendly shoes are so in, a great conversation starter and good for the earth… what’s not to love?

However, I’m more of a fashionista than an outdoors-woman, so I don’t often find occasions to wear Patagonia shoes since I’m typically not looking for performance and outdoor footwear, two categories in which Patagonia footwear excels.

But then Patagonia shoes came out with its Bandha line of sandals. These fashion forward sandals have all the great things about Patagonia – high quality construction, eco-friendly materials and durability – as well as some serious style punch! I had to get a pair.

I chose the Patagonia Bandha Strap in brown. Ankle straps are huge this season and I was super psyched to get a pair that was not only extremely elegant but also eco-concious. The Bandha Strap has a 20% recycled EVA footbed, which I love to add when I get compliments on these sandals!

My love for my Patagonia Bandha Straps was cemented on a recent trip I took to California. They were the perfect travel shoe – chic enough for Rodeo Drive, yet functional enough for walks along the canals and shops of Venice Beach. Patagonia’s mantra of exploration can definitely be felt in this shoe that’s great for walking and light enough to stow in my carry-on.

What I appreciate most about these Patagonia sandals is that they look fab but also feel great. The footbed features heel cushioning technology and pods of foam in all the right places, so that my foot gets the shock absorption it needs where it needs it. There is also a bit of arch support so I can wear them for a whole day without fatigue!

The leather upper is beautiful and features a neat, chic contrast stitching design on the heel. The ankle strap is delicate and feminine, and I love the unique yet simple metal hardware closures to keep my foot secure. The Italian-made leather outsole features a beautiful design featuring a little bird drawing. Though this is not immediately obvious, it’s a lovely detail that makes me smile. The Patagonia Bandha Strap manages to be at once stylish yet no fuss, a great sandal for a busy summer day without looking messy!

A life-long passion for rock climbing, camping and being outdoors fuels the fires of Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia. Since 1965 his visionary company has led the way in innovation for climbing gear, outdoor clothing and camping equipment that sets to standard for the outdoor industry. As success brought expanded production, more and more products and a faster pace of creation Chouinard worried about his company’s impact on the environment.

Never one to sit quietly and ignore a problem, Chouinard began finding ways to alter corporate policy, create environmental foundations and shape his company into an environmental business leader. You can see his passion in the products that he makes and the way that Patagonia strives to combine natural materials and recycled products with design that makes performance number one.

Patagonia’s line of barefoot inspired moccasins, the Maui Moc features super lightweight construction and breathable materials. Natural hemp, corduroy and perforated leather mean that feet are comfortable and protected without feeling bound by stiff and uncomfortable shoes.

A polyester air mesh lining keeps moisture away from feet and allows a cool and dry feeling for all day comfort. Patagonia footwear uses natural hemp, and a 20% recycled EVA footbed and midsole in this shoe!

For Summer running there is no better shoe than the Patagonia Tsali. A high performance running shoe that is also ultra lightweight and designed with a breathable air mesh upper to allow you to feel as though there is nothing on your feet at all. Just 20-ounces per pair!

The designers at Patagonia have created a gender-specific, anatomical footbed (using 20% recycled materials!) that puts the support exactly where it should be and eliminates anything unneeded or uncomfortable. A reinforced X-Dynamic lacing system continues the custom fit so that your trail-worthy Patagonia running shoes feel like they were made just for you.

Ladies, the Trinium sandal is here to make your Summer fabulous! With only the minimum this sandal makes the maximum impact and are sure to be some of your favorites. Featuring a subtle cross of different sized leather straps placed to give you maximum stability and comfort without leaving feet feeling covered and uncomfortable, Trinium delivers both style and comfort.

The ankle strap means you can wear these sandals anywhere without worry from poolside to top deck and all around town. Patagonia again uses materials designed to lessen our impact on the planet with a cork-wrapped footbed and a stitched construction that minimizes the need for toxic solvents and adhesives. The EVA footbed/midsole is made of 15% recycled material while the rubber outsole is made of 20% recycled materials!

In 2002 Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia and Craig Mathews, owner of Blue Ribbon Flies, combined forces to create 1% For The Planet. This foundation provides a way for businesses to donate 1% of their net sales to support the planet. Environmental organizations around the world have benefited from these partnerships and each company can select what what groups receive their 1% so money can stay local or go global. Since its creation in 2002, 1% FTP has added more than 1,200 partner businesses and raised $50 million for the planet.

In 2005 Patagonia started a revolution with a recycling program for many pieces of their clothing called Common Threads Recycling Program.  Recycling products from their Capilene® Performance Baselayers, Patagonia cotton t-shirts, Nylon 6 products, Patagonia fleece and even accept Polartec® fleece from other companies. It isn’t every article of clothing made by Patagonia, but it is a start and they are working on developing ways to recycle even more of their products after their useful life is at an end. Keeping these items from landfills around the world and reducing all of our footprint here on the planet.

Spring is springing across the country! Grass is greening, flowers blooming, trees are budding, it is time to get back outside and enjoy the weather! I’ve pulled together a couple possibilities to consider for footwear just right for sunny conditions!

The Merrell Chameleon Arc Pure is a beautiful blend of high tech comfort, performance and design. Cutouts in the upper part of the shoe are covered in a breathable mesh allowing air to flow through the shoe, keeping feet cool and dry on hikes on warm Spring days and hot summer afternoons.

The effect is architectural in design and gives these shoes a unique and appealing look. The protective rubber toe cap combined with the Merrell Air Cushion heel makes this comfortable and stable no matter how much you put your Merrells through.

Just in time the hazy days of summer, the Merrell Circuit MJ Breeze appears with its cool mesh material covering the entire upper part of the shoe.

For those who like more than a flip flop or a sandal, these Mary Jane inspired shoes offer just enough support without weighing you down in something heavy.

With the famous Merrell sticky rubber sole for traction and stable footing, you can wear these shoes all day every day.

I know that I’m a sucker for the Mary Jane look, it’s just so classic and comfy, and the Patagonia Kenosha is a delight. More substantial, with a thicker more sneaker-like sole, this is a more rugged version than the old dress-up shoe.

Two adjustable straps on top and at the heel make for a perfect fit while the molded EVA midsole provides cushioning and support. I also love that Patagonia uses so much recycled material in their products.

This shoe has 100% recycled laces, 70% recycled footbed and 15% recycled midsole. How awesome is that?

The Teva Westwater is a favorite for a reason- it is stylish, comfortable and lives up to all we expect of a Teva sandal.

From the street to the park you don’t have to sacrifice style for comfort or performance, this shoe has it all.

The sponge EVA topsole was inspired by yoga mats, which means it is comfortable, supportive and healthy for your feet.

The open design of the shoe combined with the mesh material used means that your feet stay cool and dry in hot, humid conditions.

Live near the beach, lake or river? Like to hike in terrain that changes from the start to finish of your hike? I’ve got just the shoes for you- the Keen Venice H2.

A very rugged sandal with open webbing and great traction it’s perfect for hiking through streams, walking the beach and and taking on water of all sorts.

A molded EVA footbed cradles your foot in complete comfort and the fast-drying materials used make this shoe ideal for excursions near water.

My favorite new find has to be the Keen Coronado sandal, it is so different from the other styles and yet so perfect.

It looks a bit like a skate-style sneaker that has been sliced apart and re-formed into something all new.

It is an unexpected look that looks great and lets you stand out with your own flair.

With natural canvas on the top, recycled PU and cork for the footbed this earth-friendly shoe has a laid back style all its own. We love Keen!

All of us want to shop more responsibly, support businesses that are doing their best to improve the world and still enjoy the great fashion and fun shopping that we love.

PlanetShoes.com has created the Brands That Care store to show us what companies are creating change. These companies take their responsibility to the Earth, their communities and their employees seriously.

Many strive to change the way that their products are made to create less of an impact on the environment. Some, like Chaco, have used wind or solar power to create a carbon-neutral footprint. Others, such as Patagonia find ways to re-use the scrap materials generated in their manufacturing process to lighten their eco-footprint.

Changing the world is not easy, but it is a challenge worth taking on and there are plenty of worthy causes to support. New Balance has partnered with the Susan G. Komen Foundation to join the fight against breast cancer. Lace Up For The Cure offers specially designed New Balance shoes where part of each sale goes to fund the fight against breast cancer. While Mi Mo handbags donates a whopping 5% of all of their profits to charities that fight domestic violence.

Several companies have integrated a commitment to others as a part of their corporate identity. TOMS Shoes donates one pair of shoes for every sold, an unparalleled effort to change the way millions of people face each day. While casual favorite Crocs created SolesUnited to collect used Crocs, recycle them and then donates the shoes all around the world to people who otherwise would go barefoot. Millions of people are sickened and injured every year by not having adequate footwear, and these companies are changing the harsh reality step by step.

Timberland has created the Earthkeeper project committed to building community gardens, rebuilding playgrounds and engaging their employees in community service. They have made steps towards changing the way that their company runs from the manufacturing to the sales of their shoes to reduce their environmental impact. Less packaging, streamlining distribution and selecting sustainable materials will all make this world a better place.

Patagonia, a leader in responsible business practices has also teamed with partners to create a re-soleing program that allows customers to keep their favorite shoes and boots on their feet and out of the landfill.

Ten years ago the 1% For The Planet organization got their start with just a handful of businesses, now 1248 companies donate 1% of their sales to a network of 2,023 environmental organizations worldwide. Planet Shoes, Patagonia and El Naturalista have joined this great cause and have helped to contribute to more than 30 million dollars raised for the planet!

Many of the companies featured in the Brands That Care store have progressive policies that allow their employees to live balanced and active lifestyles. Timberland and The North Face encourage employees to use alternative transportation, carpool and bicycle whenever possible.

I love knowing which companies are doing good things behind the scenes to make my world better. I get to shop in a way that is responsible and supports causes that I believe in. Each step that I can take to make my life, my habits- especially my shopping habits greener and more socially responsible the better I feel. The Brands That Care store is my cheat-sheet for knowing just where to look for great footwear with a conscience.

According to The Cleanest Line:

“If you watched the Academy Awards last night you may have seen Patagonia’s founder, Yvon Chouinard, appear on a commercial for the American Express Members Project, a new partnership with social-action network Takepart.com. The piece was filmed in and around Ventura County by Robert Richardson – himself an Oscar-winning cinematographer – and directed by Scott Hicks of Shine fame. Read the official press release (Word doc).”

Teachers are up and down and on their feet all day long. The key to finding a great pair of men’s shoes for a teacher of any grade is a classic style and a comfort brand. You want to look up to date, be able to move easily and be supported properly throughout the day. No, we’re not going to highlight the trendiest styles for our teachers who are back in school and enriching young minds, but we will highlight some great styles from some well known, and some lesser known brands that will keep you comfortable all day long and keep you looking great as well!

We love the classics! This Earth Regan is a simple and formal Oxford style but with a twist – this shoe is souped up for all day comfort and long term back support and health. All Earth Shoes incorporate the Kalso Negative Heel Technology which angles your foot to shift your weight back over the heels, improving your posture and helping you to burn more calories and build core strength.

Also outfitted with specialized arch support and BioFoam cushioning, Earth shoes will feel like heaven to anyone on their feet or on the go all day long. So basically, this shoe appears to be a normal dress shoe, but it will actually help you get kit, improve your posture and provide you with all day comfort. We don’t think it gets much better than that.

Patagonia is a great brand to support, especially for any teachers with a green bent and an eco-friendly spirit. They also create classic styles out of durable materials and their shoes are designed for active folks, perfect for a dynamic teacher on the go! This shoe, the Patagonia Cedar is a casual, classic shape with simple details and most importantly a compression molded EVA footbed that provides maximum comfort that is also removable for cleaning!

Lace up to keep your shoe in place and featuring a full toe box for comfort, this shoe is also designed with a need for minimal adhesive and with eco-friendly leather processing the laces are made from scrap leather to further reduce waste!

Tsubo is a really interesting brand with a unique and modern look and this shoe, the Tsubo Plana which is considered a hybrid dress casual would be great for a young teacher on the go. The elastic lace up enclosure keeps a firm, comfortable and secure fit while the double density insole will keep your feet happy no matter how long you’re standing at the board or wandering the aisles helping students.

The leather is high quality and supple and although the shoe is modern in design it will look great with khaki’s, jeans or cords and will easily see you through the seasons. If you’re looking for an interesting and incredibly comfortable, high quality shoe, consider the Tsubo Plana – push your style envelope!

Finally, we had to highlight a great, classic loafer – and this option, the Geox Newport is a perfect combination of classic shape, modern styling and awesome comfort technology. Geox shoes are all specially designed with an ultralight, waterproof and breathable rubber outsole which offer traction, flexibility, temperature management and shock absorption.

With the great shape of this loafer, the super comfortable fit and feel and the temperature regulation, you can pace the halls at lightning speed, walk your classroom, and make it to all your meetings in comfort and style and your feet will stay dry, well supported and great looking all day long.

Like cotton, wool is considered a sustainable material and is therefore gaining ground as a material being used in eco-friendly footwear. All wool is considered sustainable as it’s a natural material that can be renewed by sheep farming, but organic wool should be used and cultivated. There are a number of breeds of sheep used in the production of organic wool and they include Navajo-Churro, Columbia, Rambouillet and Border Leicester among others.

Organic wool is certified according to federal requirements. Feed for the livestock must be certified as organic, there can be no use of hormones on the sheep or genetic engineering, it is prohibited to use any kind of pesticide on either the livestock themselves, on the fields in which they graze or on feed. Finally, farmers must raise healthy livestock through sustainable management practices.

Non organic wool allows for sheep “dipping” in insecticides and farmers can raise a higher number of sheep per square acre, which can adversely affect the health of the livestock. Right now, organic wool is more expensive than conventionally produced wool. The organic wool industry is considerably smaller and although they receive a higher price per unit than traditionally produced wool, when wool prices are low, non-organic wool producers will increase the amount of sheep per unit of land in order to make more money, which organic producer’s can’t do.

Organic wool production is gaining ground in the United States and according to the Organic Trade Association is being produced in Colorado, Maine, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and Vermont.
Wool and organic wool make for great shoe materials for all of the reasons wool makes excellent fabric and textiles for clothing and other products. Extremely warm and insulating, wool is also breathable and helps to manage moisture on the body.

So which of our brands use wool and organic wool in their production?

Simple Shoes – Simple shoes loves using wool because they consider it to be sustainable, warm and breathable – and they’re right!

Often used in Simple Shoes slippers as well as in boots, Mary Jane’s and other shoes, Simple Shoes use wool as an innovative material for its texture, color options and eco-friendly reasons.

Patagonia Shoes – Patagonia shoes use shearling and chlorine free wool in many of their boot and shoe linings.

They rely on the natural properties of wool for warmth, cushioning and heat and moisture management in the shoe linings.

Patagonia loves using sustainable E-Fibers like organic cotton, hemp and wool in their shoe designs.

Rocket Dog Shoes – The Rocket Dog Eco-Luv line offers a blend of sustainable fibers in their shoe textiles.

Including organic wool, these edgy, fun and sustainable shoes are perfect for casual wear for the “green girl.”

Super comfortable and using cool texture, Rocket Dog sneakers and other options love sustainable wool!

Timberland Shoes – Timberland Shoes use SmartWool® lining for added coziness and temperature and moisture control.

Primarily, wool is used in their winter shoe options and Timberland uses wool and fabrics to add texture and fun to their fall and winter options.

I knew there were clothes out there made of hemp and recently we experimented with hemp seeds in our whole food cooking, but I had no idea hemp had been used in footwear applications until very recently. Of course, it makes sense.

Hemp is known to make durable and versatile textiles, so many shoe companies are taking advantage of this flexibility and using this eco friendly and sustainable material. In fact, hemp has been used for over 12,000 years as a fiber resource. Sadly, hemp cannot be grown at an industrial level in the United States because of its association with the drug marijuana, which is also from the cannabis family.

Hemp is a form of cannabis but it is the virtually THC free brother of the well known marijuana plant. Industrial hemp has been used in paper products, biodegradable plastics, health food, textiles and apparel and recently, because of the popularity of using sustainable materials, its popularity and therefore its crops are growing fast! In fact, it is one of the fastest growing crops producing tons of raw material that can be used in a wide variety of industries.

The hemp plant’s fibers are commonly called “bast” and when they are extracted that can be a variety of colors from off white to green and gray. Hemp was widely used for its fiber production throughout history because it produces 250% more fiber than cotton grown on the same land. In fact, the name “cannabis,” comes from the word Canvas, which is what so much hemp was used for historically.

Hemp grows quickly and is a hearty plant, requiring little pesticide and no herbicides to grow well. This lends further credibility of hemp being a sustainable and eco-friendly fiber. Currently, hemp is widely cultivated in Australia, Austria, Canada, the UK, Spain and Russia.

So which of the eco-friendly shoes that we carry incorporate hemp into their construction? Just a few that we know of, but we’re sure this number will continue to grow!

• Patagonia – Patagonia shoes use hemp fibers in soles, laces and uppers citing its durability under any circumstances. Hemp fibers are known to be quite strong and long in length so they fit Patagonia’s outdoor lifestyle brand perfectly.
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes has widely adopted hemp in several shoe uppers and in other parts of the shoe. They use hemp because of its softness and its ability to breathe in the summer, to keep your feet cool but to also be warm in the winter when you need your toes cozy.
• Rocket Dog – Rocket Dog incorporated hemp into a number of shoe features in its eco-luv collection which has everything from simple sandals to cute ballet flats.

Many of our favorite eco-friendly brands incorporate cork into their shoes. Primarily, cork is incorporated in the sole of the shoe, for decorative or for functional purposes. The reason is that cork is light, durable and almost impermeable to liquids. The other cool thing about cork is that it is a natural substance that is also sustainable.

Cork comes from the Cork Oak tree, a special variety of tree that grows and lasts about 200 years. Every nine years, the cork is literally stripped from the trunk of the trees and then the raw materials are turned into all kinds of products. Most Cork Oak trees are in Portugal, with Spain coming in second as a cork producer.

Cork is highly recyclable and its elasticity and density are what make it so popular as wine stoppers and in things like buoys. Likewise, these characteristics of cork make them great for shoes. They can absorb shock, maintain the low weight of the shoe, resist water and moisture from your feet or from your environment and now the look of cork is also highly desirable as a contrasting texture in shoe design.

So which of our favorite shoe companies use cork in their shoes, and how?

• Patagonia – Patagonia often uses cork wrapped footbeds incorporated into Patagonia sandals because cork is comfortable against the skin and wicks away moisture to keep your feet comfortable even on the hottest days.
• Rafters – Rafters sandals use cork in a different way – they blend it with rubbers and other recycled materials to reduce the amount of man made and harder to get materials. For instance, you’ll often find cork and EVA midsoles in Rafters sandals, taking advantage of the natural benefits of cork.
• Rocket Dog – Rocket Dog’s Eco Luv collection incorporates cork in several styles, including their higher wedges to keep shoes light and sustainable!
• Simple Shoes – Simple Shoes uses cork and natural latex to add a soft and squishy, yet moisture resistant and sustainable softness to their great looks!
• Terrasoles – Terrasoles shoes, like many brands, uses cork in many of its midsoles, often blended with eco friendly latex for maximum comfort while taking advantage of all of Cork’s natural properties!
• The North Face – The North Face is a leading maker of eco-friendly active footwear and they also love using a blend of cork and EVA as their midsole to maximize sustainability and comfort!
• Zumfoot – Zumfoot shoes are innovative and interesting and they use cork and rubber to create a flexible and more sustainable outsole.

Organic cotton is all over the place these days. You’ll see it in t-shirts, home goods, cotton balls and even in eco-friendly shoes. Organic cotton is grown according to a set of standards that has been developed to certify methods that have less of an impact on the environment. This means no dangerous pesticides, no genetic engineering and the preservation of biodiversity and the soil.

The push for organic cotton is critically important, because according to some sources, it can take 1/3 of a pound of chemicals to produce enough cotton for one t-shirt. If you consider the sheer amount of cotton clothing, not even counting all of the other things for which cotton is used, you can imagine how many chemicals are going into the soil and into the cotton and ultimately into the earth and into people.

Organic cotton has a huge variety of benefits. Firstly, organic cotton does use genetic engineering or antibiotics, which means that natural strengths in the plants are cultivated and weaker plants are culled out. Consequently, soil health is improved and species diversity is supported. By protecting the soil and the earth, we’ll have better, healthier land and crops and we’ll be preserving the health and success of future generations.

In 2007-2008, according to the Organic Trade Association, the growth of organic cotton increased by 152% and it is produced worldwide, with India now in the lead in terms of production. The only downside to organic cotton is that is costs more to produce, therefore increasing the costs of consumer goods down the line – but using organic cotton not only preserves the environment from chemicals, it also reduces or dependence on oil and petroleum.

How?

Well, other materials used to create clothing like rayon, polyester, acrylic and nylon are all made with petrochemicals. Petrochemicals are derived from petroleum and petroleum comes from oil. So when you support companies that use organic cotton, and when you wear organic cotton, you are supporting the environment in multiple ways.

We’re excited to offer shoes from a number of companies who have committed to using organic cotton in their construction!

• Simple Shoes
• Chaco Shoes
• Patagonia Shoes
• Rocket Dog Shoes