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A cultural divide is looming and threatens to tear apart the fabric of our society. It’s about whether you take off your shoes when you enter the house.
We understand every aspect. If you live in the countryside, you may want to take off your shoes because walking around in the woods can get muddy and dirty. In the suburbs, you’re likely to be driving everywhere, and your shoes probably won’t have a lot of germs on them. It may seem strange to take off your shoes in someone else’s house. But if you live in a city like New York, where street hygiene is questionable, you might develop the habit of leaving your shoes at your door and demanding the same from visitors.
Anyway, come winter, there’s nothing more hygge than a pair of comfy slippers. Whether you need slippers for hygiene reasons or to keep your feet warm, keep the following in mind:
What to look for in ethical and sustainable slippers
Natural materials: Many cheap slippers are made from synthetic fibers such as polyester or acrylic, and the plastic microfibers can mix with the dust in your home and be inhaled. Instead, choose brands that use wool, shearling or organic cotton. you can Click here to learn more about wool. Shearling is simply sheepskin with some wool remaining, so it has a fluffy part on one side and durable leather on the other.
Non-mulsed wool: Although wool is a natural, biodegradable material, there are unethical practices being practiced on it. Mulesing is a technique in which the skin around the rear of Australian-raised lambs is removed to reduce the risk of fly infestation. you can be careful Textile Exchange’s Responsible Wool Standarddesigned to be the global standard for protecting animal welfare. This influences best practices, ensures traceability and provides clear information to consumers.
Fair and artisanal labor: Slippers and house shoes have a long tradition in many societies around the world, so you can choose from a variety of artisan-made styles. What’s more, the artisan style means it’s easy to repair at your local shoe store, despite the porous polyester fuzz.
Non-toxic and environmentally friendly manufacturing: Since you’ll be wearing your slippers around the house a lot, they should be free of harmful finishes that can be found on cheaper slippers. Look for brands that use non-toxic adhesives, dyes and finishes and source their leather and shearling from responsible tanneries. You want to keep the dust and air in your home clean and fresh, especially during the months when the windows are closed and the rain and wind are blowing.
Packaging: Many brands offer plastic-free packaging. Double-check that your items are packaged in either reusable, 100% recyclable, or biodegradable packaging.
With that in mind, here are our favorite ethical and sustainable slippers to keep your feet cozy and comfortable as you spend your day at home.
Certified B Corp, Chilote creates slippers from upcycled salmon skin leather, vegetable-tanned saddle leather, and natural Patagonia wool. They are handcrafted by Patagonia’s independent female artisans through a co-op system, allowing them to work outside of the typical factory system.and empower local communities. Each pair is rolled in an eco-friendly, reusable shipping tube, contains no plastic, and comes with additional wool thread and salmon skin for personalization or repairs. It also comes with a QR code, so you can learn more about the group of craftsmen who created it. We have sizes available for all your family and friends. Click here for details.
Kyrgyz Throws uses centuries-old traditional techniques to create ultra-hygge wool slippers by women artisans in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, who are among the world’s best wool felters. A female artisan in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, is paid a living wage by a female-run factory. Each pair of Kyrgyzstan is made from damp felted wool to keep your feet at the perfect temperature all year round. It also has excellent odor resistance, breathability, and durability. The sheep that provide the wool live in open pastures from spring to autumn and move to the gardens of Kyrgyz villagers during the winter. Kyrgies uses natural vegetable tanned leather for its soles. This means that it is tanned without the use of chrome.
Sustainable Footwear Allbirds offers two types of comfortable slippers made from wool. the resident of wool teeth Made from upcycled wool shoe scraps and 40% GRS certified recycled polyester. And that wool lounger fluff is made from ZQ merino wool. Allbirds packaging is plastic-free and made from 90% post-consumer recycled cardboard. Read our full review of Allbirds.
All Great slippers are designed in Brooklyn and manufactured in a prestigious Italian factory that meets the highest standards of labor and environmental practices. We partner with factories that consume less water, electricity, and energy. The Greats team never uses single-use plastics in our packaging or retail stores and always uses eco-friendly materials such as biodegradable leather, recycled nylon, and non-toxic dyes.
Nootkas creates comfortable and sophisticated slippers using responsibly sourced New Zealand wool or wool grown locally by the manufacturer. Its slippers are warm, breathable, and have natural odor resistance. All of the company’s slipper production takes place in Fair Trade certified facilities that are clean, treat employees well, pay fair wages, and provide stable employment in remote areas where good jobs are difficult to find. These facilities are also committed to environmentally friendly and sustainable production, using solar power for much of their energy needs. All Nootkas products are free of plastics, chemicals, and synthetic fibers that can pollute the environment or irritate the skin.
B-Corp certified, Baabuk designs slippers that are modern, comfortable, colorful, durable and responsibly made using New Zealand wool. The farm’s water and soap cleaning process is environmentally friendly and the water is recycled so it doesn’t pollute local rivers. Barbuk chose Nepal as its manufacturing location because of the opportunity to positively impact local communities.
Founded in 2014, Parachute is an online-only direct-to-consumer brand that started with bedding and expanded into many areas of the home, including slippers. All products are made safely without harmful chemicals or synthetics. You can buy different types of slippers, including those made from wool and Oeko-Tex certified cotton.
Manitobah Mukluks is a Canadian Indigenous-owned company that manufactures moccasins, slippers, and winter boots. We combine centuries-old Aboriginal designs with modern materials to create high quality shoes. The slippers feature a Métis floral beadwork design and a specially designed rubber outsole for comfort in cold weather.
Rothy’s slippers are made with RWS-certified merino wool, Sherpa lining, and a 26% natural mineral outsole, making them suitable for indoor and outdoor wear. The brand owns its own factory in Dongguan, China to ensure ethical working conditions and eliminate waste. Rothy’s slippers are machine washable. Be sure to remove the Sherpa insole first. Rothy men’s and women’s slippers come in two styles in several colors. The brand uses recyclable packaging for all orders.
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