Posh Swaps Blog

The weather is still freezing cold but sooner or later spring has to arrive and when it does we are sure to be more than ready. Despite the cold weather now is a great time to start putting a little thought into footwear for spring. There are now plenty of eco friendly shoes and boots available allowing you to not only look great but feel great too, safe in the knowledge that your shoes have been made with minimal impact on the environment.

Dream in Green are a fantastic eco brand with a range of on trend and stylish shoes and boots made with respect for the planet using leather that has been tanned using only natural (vegetable) tans. Tanning of conventional leather uses a range of environmentally damaging chemicals.

We love these tan boots with a natural leather finish and interesting perforated upper. We think they would look great with skinny jeans and floaty boho skirts.

We love the how these trainers by Dream in Green do the traditional hi top style with a twist. These are the perfect footwear for wearing for cool and casual outfits like jeans. You could also team them with a denim dress for a funky look.

Timberland are a great brand that have made a firm commitment to both transparency and their environmental and ethical performance. In addition they also made great shoes.

A great pair of neutral coloured sandals is a must have for spring. This pair from Timberland give a little added height with a small heel but are still easy to walk in. They go with everything from summer dresses to shirt and a t shirt. They are made from eco friendly jute, raffia, rubber, and cotton.

We have often raved before about the fantastic selection of eco friendly shoes at Spartoo. Today we wanted to share some brands that make lovely sustainable casual footwear including trainers and flat shoes. The great thing about most sustainable shoes is that they are made with a great attention to detail making them really comfy shoes to wear, especially if you are on your feet all day. Of course there is also the benefit that you can wear them safe in the knowledge that they have had a minimal impact on the environment.

FYE stands for ‘For Your Earth’, Their shoes are both colourful and retro fitting well with current fashion. we really love this bright orange pair which will brighten up any spring outfit. FYE use a range of eco friendly materials to make their shoes including recycled bottles, recycled shoes and organic cotton.

Patagonia have a strong commitment to the environment and as well as minimising the environmental impact of their products, they also support a range of different environmental intiatives. They make a range of casual footwear as well as high performance styles designed for outdoor activities. We love these hiking shoes.

Simple is another eco friendly shoe brand making comfortable casual footwear that also looks great. The upper is made of organic cotton and the sole from recycled tyres.

Timberland boots are not only high performing and practical for the cold weather but they also look great too. The designs at Timberland now go way beyond the iconic yellow boot that most people will think of when you mention the brand. But Timberland also do some great shoes and sandals and the best thing is they are now in the sale, so it is the perfect time to pick out something lovely ready for spring.

Timberland is also an eco friendly company with that is working to reduce the impact of its manufacturing and products in many different ways from reducing greenhouse gas to improving ethical performance of its factories. It uses a sustainable materials where possible which include recycled PET, Green Rubber and smart wool. All of the leather used by Timberland is also from silver or gold rated tanneries. The Timberland Earthkeepers range also represents the most ecofriendly Timberland products.

Here are some of our picks from the sale

This pair of tan Timberland Earthkeeper shoes is incredibly versatile and will go with just about any outfit for spring. This pair is reduced from £114.99 to £57.50.

These sandals are ideal for strolling along the beach on summer holidays (or winter holidays in the sun!). They have been reduced from £114.99 to £57.50.

This pair of Chauncey sandals are another versatile style that will take you right through spring and into summer.

Timberland great selection of eco friendly shoes and boots. Timberland as a company have made bigs steps forward in terms of both sustainability and transparency with its website providing full and detailed information on the sustainability of its products from the cradle to the grave.

You may not have realised but over 59% of Timberland products used recycled materials, 92% of products use leather from silver or better rates tanneries and over 94% of products are PVC free. This year Timberland have recycled literally millions of plastic bottles to make clothes and shoes.

Timberland also have over 300 factories in 30 different countries which employ over 247,000 crafts people. They have a code of conduct with regard to quality, the environment and human rights of the people working for them, whether it be in their own factories or those owned by third parties and pay plenty of attention to ensure that their is complaince. They also work hard to increase supplier sustainability, worker engagement and sustainable living environments.

On top of all of this, they also make incredibly stylish shoes and boots. Here are some of our favourite styles.

Stratham

Earthkeeper Bethel

Ethical shoes are comfortable and made to last. They are also usually made from natural materials which will keep your feet cool and allow them to breathe. That said just because you don’t want to compromise on comfort or sustainability, it doesn’t mean that you have to compromise on style. These days eco friendly shoes are made from a variety of materials including vegetable tanned leather, cork and hemp. They are often stitched rather than glued and many have natural rubber or recycled soles. All of these features are cleverly incorporated into the design of the shoes so they look great!

If you have never bought ethically manufactured shoes before, the sales is a great time to give them a try. Spartoo have a fantastic sale on with many of their ethical brands including Pikolinos and Dream in Green reduced by up to 50%.

Anapurna by Dream in Green

Makalup by Dream in Green

Delos Shoes by Dream in Green

Betty Print Sandals by Terra Plana

Sandals by Pikolinos

It looks like summer has finally arrived. For most of us this is a great opportunity to get out and about in shorts, pretty dresses or something else stylish. For footwear many of us will swap our court shoes and boots for sandals or flip flops. if you are looking for styles that not only look great but are also super comfy, then ethical shoes and sandals are often a great choice. They are also made to last even if you do like to walk everywhere. They also have the benefit of having a minimal impact on the environment and are made from vegan eco materials or vegetable tanned leather.

Spartoo currently have a fantastic sale on with great discounts and savings on summers shoes. They have a range of pretty summer sandals which would look great with dresses, skirts, shorts and trousers and are ideal for work or play and holidays.

Here are just a few of the styles of ethical shoes available

Wedge Heels by Pikolinos - a perfect medium height heel, great for wearing with jeans or any casual outfit.

Wedge Heels by Dream in Green - tan is such a versatile colour, these shoes will go with just about any summer clothes. The wedge heel and colour also helps to elongate the leg.

Sandals by Pikolinos - of you prefer flat sandals, these pretty ones will look fantastic with both bright and pastel colours.

Flip flops by Birkenstock - for around the beach and swimming pool these flip flops have a comfy sole shaped to fit the sole of your foot.

If you have chosen to only buy ethical fashion, you may have noticed that there are plenty of choices available to you. Shoes are probably one of the hardest things to buy when it comes to ethical fashion but Spartoo have a fantactic selection of ethical and eco friendly shoes which making finding just what you want so much easier. For Spring summer 2012, they have a fantastic selection of sandals that are not only kind to the environment, they are also kind to your feet by treating them to the ultimate in comfort.

Birki’s are made in Germany and have a long standing commitment to minimising their impact on the environment. They have anatomically shaped footbeds made from cork, latex and vegetable tanned leather. They are also available in some fantastic fun colours and patterns.

These beaded sandals by Spanish brand Pikolinos are great for wearing with denim and if you are trying to achieve a boho, festival fashion or global traveller look. They have a very slight heel which makes them easy and comfortable to walk in.

These delicate sandals by Dream in Green are the perfect way to add a pop of colour to a neutral denim outfit. They will look fantastic with all sorts of summer dresses, shorts and even jeans.

Finding the right sustainable footwear can be difficult, ethical shoes are often not quite as on trend as you might like. Simple shoes seems to have got the perfect balance between ecology, street style and comfort. Not only are they manufactured with the greatest of respect for both people and the planet using recycled and sustainable materials which include recycled inner tubes, bamboo, hemp and organic cotton. The brand has been going since 1991 and is definitely developing something of a following.

For this seasons double denim look, simply wear these Simple shoes with your favourites pair of ethical jeans!

 Simple Carnival Trainers are old school! perfect for men who like the retro look that is so on trend at the moment.

These colourful Aloha trainers look fantastic with just about any sporty or casual outfit. They even look great with shorts when the weather gets warm.

These E Benedict trainers are ideal for wearing with a relaxed outfit for the weekend. They are also super comfy should you decide that you want to get out and about.

A good  pair of boots are a real investment that you can keep and wear for years. If you choose a classic style that are high quality well made they will go with a multitude of different outfits, always look stylish and never go out of fashion. The sales are a great time to invest in a great pair of eco friendly shoes or boots that are not only incredibly comfortable but also made with respect to the environment. Spartoo have a fabulous sale on at the moment with boots by some great eco friendly brands at amazing prices. Here are just a few of out favourites.

These ankle boots by Pikolinos would look equally good with a trouser suit for work or a pair of jeans on the weekend. The wedge heel is a great way to add some height without making them difficult to walk in. You can be sure that these shoes will be top quality as they are made using artisan techniques.

These versatile boots by Dream in Green can be worn to dress down a pretty floral dress or with leggings or skinny jeans for a Rock and Roll look. They are made with vegetable tanned leather which is kinder to the environment than conventional leather.

These cosy boots by Think would look great with a casual skirt and thick tights for the weekend. They are made from 100% natural materials and a completely handmade manufacturing process.