The production of most shoes is not exactly earth-friendly. Typical processes include chemical treatments of rubber and textiles, excessive packaging that produces waste and toxic glues or cements. With the threat of global warming, the depletion of our natural resources, and growing consumer demand, a change in the footwear industry needs to take measures to be more ecologically responsible.

Memberships in environmental groups are at an all time high, hybrids are estimated to account for 2% of the automotive industry by 2011, and major fashion and social magazines have committed to green issues showing that eco-fashion is in style! Consumers are demanding businesses to take a more responsible role when it comes to protecting the planet. This is not just a trend, this is a social lifestyle movement!

This is why Simple launched Green Toe as an effort to reduce the ecological footprint left on the planet from making shoes. Green Toe consists of shoes made from sustainable materials like jute, cork, natural crepe rubber, felted wool, natural latex, and water-based adhesives.

As a continued step in ecological responsibility, Simple is introducing EcoSNEAKS for fall 2007. EcoSNEAKS bridges the gap between today’s fashion and the growing demand for sustainable products. EcoSNEAKS will be available for men and women. Like the boom of hybrid car sales and model offerings by different automotive manufactures, Simple Shoes further support the sustainable movement in the automotive industry, EcoSNEAKS use recycled car tires for the outsole! Car tires are better used for the bottom of your shoes, rather than the bottom of a landfill.

EcoSNEAKS are sustainable with 100% organic cotton linings and collars, PET (recycled water bottles) shoe laces, footbeds and wrapped latex elastics, water based cements and no unnecessary waste! Hangtags are unnecessary, so we printed the ingredients on the footbeds!