Fashionably Sustainable

Thinking of ditching fast fashion?

Although we all need something to wear on our feet, we appreciate that we have to be cautious about our decision to reduce the impact on our environment. We strike to lead and support sustainability. Unlike large chain stores, we try to ensure that every brand we bring to Watkinsons has core values of sustainability, quality and fair trade. Our aim is to extend the lifetime of a shoe.

Sustainable Choices from our Favourite Brands

Think! Shoes

Think! shoes has become the first shoe manufacturer to receive the Austrian eco-label which is one of the strictest sustainability in Europe. Our brands endeavour to stick to very strict sustainability criteria and to re-introduce ecologically friendly shoes and ethos to the market.

Sioux Shoes

Sioux, one of our favourite German brands, is committed to being against the manufacturing of fast fashion. Their shoes are traditionally designed to be of high quality, durability and wear. The idea is to ensure that the same shoes are worn from year to year. All leathers and hides are made from agricultural by-products and that animals used are bred for the purpose of food production. The company ensures that not a single animal dies for leather production. Sioux also pays attention to whether the leather comes from and processes from European rawhides. Due to the higher cost of shoes, this ensures that all leather processes can be done sustainability.

Another form of sustainability is the business model. For smaller businesses, usually working sustainability is standard process. At Sioux, their employees have worked with them for more than 40 years, some families have two generations at Sioux. Sustainability is a combination of environmentally conscious decisions and complying with working and social standards.

Sioux has recently committed to transporting by sea rather than by air and halving their energy consumption.

Duckfeet

Duckfeet shoes and boots have replaceable crepe outsoles. This encourages customers to replace the soles on the shoes and keep on wearing them. Duckfeet are also partnered with One Tree Planted to offer an easy way to support deforestation.

Palmroth

Palmroth ensures that sustainable thinking is incorporated into the design process. Their goal is to design and produce models that are both long-lasting and functional. All products are designed in Finland. They pay attention to materials and invest in the sustainability of shoes. They believe that the longer a product stays in use, the lower its environmental impact. The extension in the life cycle of the shoe is of high importance as is the encouragement for the customer to take care of their footwear.

Palmroth source materials from responsible producers in Europe and select high-quality materials. Their products are design to resist difficult weather and to stay in good conditions. Their leathers come from Italy and are manufactured using EU environmental standards and controls. Palmroth are also already committed recycled ingredients in some of their materials for example some of their soles are made from partially recycled pulp.

Palmroth also uses fossil- free energy generated by wind-power and they also partner with companies who share their sustainable values.

We team up with many other brands who focus on sustainability and aim to do more in the coming years to ensure we continue to strive towards a more sustainable planet.