Posh Swaps Blog

For the first time Po-Zu’s entire Autumn-Winter shoe collection is online. The collection of natural and ethically produced footwear with a topsy-turvy theme is displayed on http://www.po-zu.com/

Warm in even the coldest weather, Po-Zu winter shoes are also breathable. This is achieved by lining them with bio-based materials, which are naturally thermal, such as unbleached and undyed pure felt wool and vegetable tanned sheepskin. This season Po-Zu also treats tweed, felt and sheepskin shoes with an eco-friendly water-resistant coating. Waxed suede shoes are treated with coconut shoe cream to improve water resistance.

The women’s Piper boot is a new, taller version of the old favourite style Pep. With lacing at the back, the shaft become fully adjustable to provide a snug, perfect fit. The vegetarian Joy and Yew styles now come in elegant mixed-colour tweeds with fine blotched-pattern.

As for the men’s range, there is a new Chelsea boot called Che,that has a unique elasticated gusset moulded in natural latex, embossed with the repeat pattern of the Po-Zu butterfly. It’s a refreshing alternative to the typical synthetic woven elastic and is also longer lasting. Technically speaking, the entire range comes with the Butterfly Suspension Mechanism at the heel; it softens the impact as the foot hits the ground. Sandwiched between the sole and the inner-sock lies Po-Zu’s unique coconut fiber ‘foot-mattress’. This dream mattress gradually moulds to the shape of your feet, making them feel incredibly rested.

Po-Zu was launched in 2006 with the aim of setting new standards in ecological and ethical

footwear manufacturing. Its shoes are made from carefully selected natural materials that are healthy for your feet, safe for all the workers throughout the supply chain, and kind to the environment.

By stitching all the components together, Po-Zu avoids harmful glues, making its shoes more breathable, durable, repairable and recyclable.

The brand’s other prime purpose is to provide maximum comfort. The experience of walking or even standing in Po-Zu shoes is absolute pleasure. Thanks to its unique ‘foot-mattress’ feet feel incredibly rested. The coir ‘foot-mattress’ also provides great air circulation to keep feet dry, and good insulation from both hot and cold climates. Po-Zu’s original shoebox was nominated for the UK Green Awards 2006, for best packaging.

The biodegradable coconut box can be used as trays to grow seeds. As the plant grows, the entire packaging can be planted into the ground where it eventually decomposes into the earth.

Following its commitment to produce products that are as non-toxic as possible, Po-Zu launched in 2007 a shoe cream that is so safe it can be eaten. Apart from treating leather, the Edible Shoe Cream is also an all-in-one beauty product that can be used as a lip balm, skin moisturizer, hair conditioner, massage oil and cooking oil. It can even be spread on toast for a nutritious snack.

Choosing a pair of boots for winter is all about finding a really snug and warm option. If you like keeping up with the latest fashion, you are lucky this year as outdoor wear, alpine sports and shearling linings are all key trends and all really cosy. There are also plenty of ethical choices of outdoor boots made from natural materials and vegetable tanned leather.

Our favourites are from the El Nauralista range at Spartoo. A collection of boots inspired by Inuits who live in artic conditions and know more than most how to keep their feet toasty warm.

Inuit Fogh These boots would look amazing with leggings and a  chunky knit jumper or cape plus an oversized knitted scarf.

Organico Fimi - These boots would look great worn over skinny jeans for a very stylish winter outfit. They have a warm lining and a stylish design made from different pieces of leather sewn togther.

Inuit Koki - Another great pair of boots, this time ankle height which is great for wearing with trousers.

14 November 2010 will be the last of the Primrose Hill vintage fairs this year! So come along for another wonderful shopping experience at Cecil Sharp House. As we are now more or less into winter, you will find a large selection of the most stylish coats and jackets, ranging from tweed, camel, real fur, faux fur, certainly something to suit all tastes and price ranges.

This seasons fashion includes ranges of designer knitwear copied from 50’s style. At the fair, you can find originals of these knits at a fraction of high street prices.

Christmas parties are looming, so an ideal time to look for that very special outfit. Remember all vintage buys are one offs, so the beautiful lacy sparkly dress you find will be totally exclusive to you!

Don’t forget to look for Christmas presents – maybe a pretty piece of affordable jewellery or some other vintage treasure…..

The perfect way to spend a leisurely Sunday afternoon, the fair offers wearable vintage pieces at affordable prices, and for those looking for something extra, there is always a selection of designer labels. Previous finds include Chanel, Biba, Ossie Clarke, Yves St Laurent.

Take a break in between shopping and relax in a The Nice Green Cafe. You will find delicious homemade food all with natural ingredients at a very fair price.

Entrance to the fair is a snip at £3. Please visit vintagefashionlondon.co.uk for the chance to apply for complimentary tickets.

Open to the public from 11am -5pm

Address: Cecil Sharpe House, 2 Regents Park Road, London NW1 7AY

For further details please email fair@vintagefashionlondon.co.uk

Whilst there is plenty of talk about the environmental and ethical impact of the clothes that we wear including the use of pesticides to grow cotton, the energy intensive manufacture of synthetic fabrics and the fast fashion culture which commits thousands of tonnes of textile waste to landfill, we often forget about our shoes and footwear which is just as essential to every day life as clothing and has just as much impact.

The majority of shoes are made from either leather or synthetic materials both of which have huge environmental impacts. Leather is usually tanned using a process which causes damage to the health of the people involved and to the surrounding environment. The tanning uses chemicals including lead, zinc, formaldehyde, dyes and cyanide-based chemicals. Shoes are also often glued together using benzene which is highly toxic and damaging to the health of the workers. Synthetic materials are usually not biodegradable making them difficult to dispose of and also sometimes contain toxic chemicals like phthalates which are damaging to health and the environment in a number of ways. So how is likely is it that there will be more ethical footwear available in the future?

Well there are already a number of companies which specialise in ethical footwear and manufacture shoes using a variety of materials and methods which have a lesser impact on the environment. Po Zu Ethical Footwear makes shoes using a variety of natural materials including cork, organic hemp, natural latex, coconut husk and vegetable tanned leather.  They using stitching instead of glue to make the shoes and the factory follows strict ethical guidelines. The shoes are made to for comfort and durability so that they should have a long life span but when their useful life is over they easily biodegrade.

Brands like Po-Zu are taking big steps forward in the manufacture of ethical footwear but there is still a long way to go in finding the perfect ethical and eco friendly material to make the shoes from. Whilst vegan shoes made of materials like hemp and cork are both incredibly sustainable, they are unlikely to ever replace leather which is favoured for its appearance and durability. Vegetable tanned leather is a better alternative than conventionally tanned leather but still has an environmental impact associated with the rearing of animals and for many there are ethical issues surrounding the welfare of the animals.

One of the changes that would help the growth of ethical footwear would be change in attitude to the buying of footwear. Footwear can be considered as part of the ‘fast fashion culture’ and ‘throw away society’ where low cost shoes are purchased in line with the current trends and thrown away after a few wears. The second hand market for shoes is even less than with clothes. If people could consider an investment which they will keep for many years to come then they may not mind paying a little extra to ensure both quality and that the shoes have been ethically manufactured. The longer life span of shoes would then cut down on waste.

There are a number of potential materials that could be used to make ethical footwear and shoes in the future although there is still some way to go before these materials become completely commercially viable. The ideal material would need to be strong, breathable, durable and look great when made into shoes.

Fish leather is one possible solution. It is made using fish skin which is a by product of the fish industry and it is also really strong. The tanning process also does not use toxic chemicals. At the moment, it is mainly used for products like purses. Ocean leather is another possible solution which is made from kelp but is still in the very early stages of development.

Vegetarian or vegan shoes are made using materials that are not derived from any animal products. This will include leather and even the glue that is often used to fix shoes together and is made from animal bones.

People wear vegan and vegetarian shoes for a number of reasons. For some it is part of a lifestyle choice which is combined with a preference for not eating meat either due for ethical or animal welfare reasons. For others it is more about the environmental impacts that are associated with the rearing of animals whose skins are used to make the leather and the tanning of the leather which uses a cocktail of damaging chemicals. For some people the choice of vegan shoes is about the choice to live a more healthy and chemical free life.

If you choose to wear vegan and vegetarian shoes you can be sure that animal will have suffered in any way in order to produce your shoes.

But aren’t synthetic alternatives to leather damaging to the environment?

Yes many synthetic alternatives to leather have a significant environmental impact which includes the use non renewable resources (oil) to make them, the pollution caused by their manufacture and their inability to bio degrade at the end of their useful life. Whilst these alternatives may be acceptable for those who don’t wear leather shoes purely because of animal welfare, it is difficult to say whether the different aspects of their environmental impact adds up to more or less than that of leather. If you want to ensure that you are choosing the most eco friendly vegan shoes you should look for the completely natural alternatives to leather. Specialist manufactures of ethical shoes like Po-Zu vegan shoes make natural and bio degradable vegan shoes in a variety of materials including cork, natural latex, coconut husk and organic hemp.

So are vegan and vegetarian shoes as long lasting as leather shoes?

It depends on the type and style of shoe and the material that it is made from. It will also depend on how you look after the shoes. Hemp is incredibly strong and a good alternative to leather for casual shoes. It is also breathable and can be dyed many different colours. If the shoes are manufactured well and looked after they should last well.

Do vegan and vegetarian shoes look as good as leather shoes?

This is all about individual taste. Many people like the look of leather and there are some leather alternatives that look almost identical to leather. However these are usually synthetic and so not great for the environment. Other alternatives to leather include wool, hemp and cork can be made into beautiful, stylish and fashionable shoes. There are plenty of styles available so you should be able to find some that you like the look of.

Vegan and vegetarian shoes are a great way to minimise your impact on the environment aprovided that you choose natural alternatives. You should shop around for great styles that are good to look at, hard wearing and long lasting.