Posh Swaps Blog

Birkenstock is a German brand of shoe that has been manufactured since 1774. The Birkenstock has always been about the wearers comfort and has a characteristic cork and rubber footbed which is moulded to the shape of the foot. It is thought that the first Birkenstock sandals were originally made by  Johann Adam Birkenstock, but it was in 1897 that his son Konrad Birkenstock developed the first contoured insole to be used for bespoke shoes.

Birkenstocks are now worn all over the worn all over the world and are particularly loved by those in professions that are on their feet all day. Birkenstocks originally became popular in the US with flower children in the sixties but in the 1990’s they again experienced a surge in popularity. These days they are seen as a classic piece of summer footwear to be worn with a variety of summer clothing without socks.

As well as traditional Birkenstocks, you can also get Birki’s for children and a more feminine version of the original design - Papillio from online shoe retailer Spartoo. There are some great colours and prints available, making them a great way to add a bit of interest to your summer outfits. Try wearing with your seventies flared jeans for true seventies style.

Melissa Lady Dragon Westwood

Sometimes it can be difficult to be eco friendly and sustainable at the same time as being on trend and stylish especially when it comes to shoes. But fun brand Melissa are changing all that with their fun and colourful range of plastic shoes.

‘Hey wait a minute’, I can hear you saying to yourself  ‘plastic? eco friendly and sustainable?’  Well everything that we wear has some type of impact on  the environment including leather shoes and even organic hemp. Sustainability is all about reducing that impact as much as possible but in the fashion world sustainability also has to be trendy and attractive or it just won’t sell.

Melissa shoes are made from party recycled  plastic and are also recyclable helping to reduce their impact in terms of waste, carbon footprint and potentially other emissions produced during manufacture. They are made in a socially and environmentally responsible  factory in Brazil which also recycles its waste and water as much as possible.

The manufacturing process of thermo moulding plastic allows fun, colourful and creative designs to be made. The label has also proved that they are right on trend with collaborations with designers like Vivienne Westwood. They even smell like candy and I assume never need to be polished, what’s not to love?

A fabulous pair of boots is on so many of our wish lists for Spring. The perfect footwear to compliment your trousers or skirts and allow you to look stylish but alsom combine comfort and practicality and also with a minimum impact on the environment. Sounds like a tall order, perhaps but there is plenty of choice at Spartoo so you should be able to find just what you want.

These Airstep Owen boots might be ethical but they are still really rock and roll. They re made from vegetable tanned leather so harmful chemicals have not been used in their processing. They would look great with a body con dress or skinny jeans for a great party outfit.

These Toulouse Boni Shoes by Pikolinos are ideal for wearing for work. They are smart but contemporay and exude city chic. They would look perfect with either a skirt or trouser suit for a day at the office. Another great eco brand which works on sustainable principles.

For everyday casual or wearing with jeans these Nasca fixt boots by El Naturalista are ultra stylish and incredibly comfortable. They are made using vegtable tanned leather and one pound from each sale goes to The Atauchi Project, created to support children’s education in Peru. These boots would also look great with tights and a skirt or shirt dress.

Who says that eco shoes have to be boring? There seems to be some preconceived that anything eco friendly in terms of fashion is going to be hippyish lacking in colour and just a bit dull. This is definitely not the case with new tecqniques used in the manufacturing of eco fashion being developed all of the time and some great eco shoe brands which manage to balance the need for style, comfort and sustainability so well.

We are loving the colourful range of eco shoes available from Spartoo on  a range of very desireable colours. they are made from sustainable materials including vegetable tanned leather which elimates the harmful chemicals and heavy metals which are used in the traditional process of tanning leather.

These boots are great for brightening up a plain old pair of jeans and adding a bit of colour to your day.

Recyclus Gygy- these bright and fun shoes by El Naturalista are completely biodegradable and 50% of the soles are made from biodegradable materials.

Inua Malada - this colourful patchwork design by Think is made manually and is completely biodegradable.

Two - these ontrend boots by Airstep not only work incredibly well with the seasons folk trend, but are also made of vegetable tanned leather will a gel insert for maximum comfort.

There are plenty of Eco brands to choose from at online shoes retailer, Spartoo with a great combination of trendy, quirky and traditional styles of footwear. The ‘Green’ shoes at Spartoo are made with respect for the environment and minimum impact on the environment.

Ethical and eco friendly shoes are the perfect footwear to finish off your outfit made from swapped or second hand clothing. Please don’t forget to send us pictures of your eco and swapped outfits to get featured on our blog.

El Naturalista sell a range of eco friendly shoes from trainers to clogs and sandals that are combination of modernity and traditional. The leather shoes are tanned with vegetable tans and are available in a great range of vibrant colours.

Recyclus Bow Shoes

Pikolinos are a Spanish brand that make 100% natural shoes with a focus on technology and artisan manufacture. Again their leathers are tanned with vegetable tans. Their shoes strike just the right balance of style, comfort and respect for the environment.

Mallorca Ding Shoe

Thinks shoes are eco friendly, but it is not just a marketing strategy, from their from their launch in 1930 they have had a strong focus on ecology. Their shoes are completely natural and made with the upmost respect for the environment.

Julia Slouv Shoe by Think

Finding a classic style of shoe that works well with all sorts of casual and smarter outfits for the summer can sometimes be challenging. These Mocassins by Pikolinos combine attention to detail and comfort in a shoes that will go with almost any casual summer outfit. We love the stitching and the neutral, versatile colour. They also have an anatomic sole for maximum comfort.

These shoes have also been made with minimum impact on the environment. Whilst most leather is tanned using a cocktail of chemicals including chromium which are bad for the environment and damaging to the health of those working in the tanneries, these shoes are made using vegetable tanned leather. Tanneries often cause substantial pollution of the air, water and land in surrounding areas. Vegetable tanning uses only natural agents which is much kinder to the environment.

Pikolinos is a Spanish brand with a focus on natural design and artisan manufacturing giving high quality, comfortable shoes that are made with respect for the environment. Their shoes all conform to their three fundemental values which are unique, natural, and authentic. They have a range of shoes available on Spartoo.co.uk including sandals, court shoes and boots.

Whilst you might think carefully about where you buy your clothes and how eco friendly they are, shoes are something that not many of us pay much attention to. The manufacture of shoes can be environmentally damaging with the use of chemicals as adhesives and for tanning leather as well as a range of non biodegradable materials.

Swapping clothes and buying second hand clothes is a great way to get sustainable style, but sometimes it is not that easy to find just the right pair of shoes in your size. A great sustainable alternative to second hand shoes is eco friendly shoes. There is a growing choice of eco shoes available ranging from organic, natural, biodegradable and recycled options. We have just discovered Spartoo, an online shoe store with a great selection of eco friendly shoes including brands like Think, El Naturalista and Pikolinos.

The notion that eco friendly shoes mean boring, frumpy or unfashionable footwear goes completely out of the window with these gorgeous, trendy and stylish shoes which are good for the environment and good for your feet.

Vialis by Campari - this delicate and on trend summer sandal will work with so many summer outfits from military shorts to floaty maxi dresses.

Schlapfa Divg by Think- this lovely bright mule is made manually using 100% natural materials, ou would never guess!

Nayeri by Panama Jack - a sturdy and very wearable medium height. Very now and very versatile try wearing with feminine floral dresses and jeans.