Materials
The midsole of every FEIT shoe is filled with cork and every pair of shoes comes with a removable cork insole.
Cork has been harvested from cork oak forests throughout the world for centuries. The harvesting process is laborious and requires great skill and patience. Unlike most trees, cork is obtained from the unique thick bark of the cork oak, not the lumber. Each cork tree must be 20 years old before it can be harvested and cannot be harvested again for nearly a decade. When harvested correctly, a cork oak can live between 160 and 200 years. Harvested by hand in the traditional method, the habitat is left intact with minimal impact on the environment.
Cork is lightweight, moisture resistant, comfortable under the feet, antifungal, and highly durable—connecting the wearer to the ground.
Hevea tree plantations are ecological forests.
Metal mold with Natural Rubber Milk
Made out of the milk of the Hevea Brasiliensis
100% natural latex rubber sole
After a lengthy design process, we developed our own 100% natural latex rubber sole made out of the milk of the Hevea Brasiliensis (rubber tree). Hevea tree plantations are ecological forests. After twenty years of harvest, the Hevea trees are recycled and replaced by young plants.
Vegetable Tannins
Oak and Cuebracho powder
Less Impact for the planet and wearer alike
Sustainable: Vegetable tanning is a sustainable process that relies on renewable resources, such as tree bark, which are often by-products of other industries.
Biodegradable: Vegetable-tanned leather is biodegradable, meaning it can break down naturally without harming the environment.
Less toxic: Vegetable tanning uses natural substances instead of harmful chemicals like chromium, which can pollute waterways and harm wildlife.
Reduced carbon footprint: Vegetable tanning requires less energy and emits less carbon dioxide than traditional tanning methods.
Hevea tree plantations are ecological forests.
Metal mold with Natural Rubber Milk
Made out of the milk of the Hevea Brasiliensis
100% natural latex rubber sole
All FEIT shoes are fitted with a bamboo shank stabilizer in the midsole. It is one of the strongest natural materials in the world. Bamboo is used for it’s inherent strength-to-weight ratio—it is as strong as steel and has almost twice the compression rate of concrete.
Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. It produces a yield 25 times higher than that of timber. With selective annual harvesting it can regenerate completely without the need to replant, making it one of the most renewable sources on the planet.
Because bamboo requires few nutrients, it can grow in soil inhospitable to other plants—not only does it thrive there, it can reclaim the land so other plants can thrive too. It’s roots leach heavy metals from the soil, hold the soil together and draw water closer to the surface.
Bamboo contains an anti-microbial element called kun which stops bacteria from growing. It is not only antibacterial, anti-fungal and anti-odor. This component helps the foot to remain neutral regardless of the temperature, allowing the shoes to be worn barefoot.
The majority of global shoe production uses metal or plastic for the stabilizer.