What does sustainability mean when discussing footwear? Recycled material? Earth-friendly production? I would consider another definition for sustainability - the Longevity or “life cycle” of the product. My idea of sustainable footwear is a pair that last forever or at least in my case 16 years and counting. I’m talking about my trusted, Red Wing “Linesman” boots. These steel toe “shit-kickers” have seen it all: mosh pits, metal forging, and over 6,000 days not all of which were spent pounding the pavement, sometimes, they just looked good with jeans.
So for me the idea of sustainability has been an experience with the Red Wing brand. Red Wing, who also own the legendary Vasque brand, are made in the USA and have been for over a century. By using the best materials and century old craftsmanship Red Wing has created product with an impressive life cycle. It’s important that materials be eco-friendly but another very important factor should be the life-cycle of the product. Consider how many boots of lesser quality would be bought and tossed over 18 years? This is not a very green solution.
Now we come to the price. Red Wing like Dr Marten are not cheap products, but make perfect sense if you consider them as an investment. And they deliver in quality and classic styling and if you’re lucky many years of sustainable butt kicking, pit moshing, metal bending….
See the new Red Wing “Lifestyle Heritage Collection”
And if you haven’t seen, J-Crew is offering 4 exclusive pairs of Red Wing boots this fall. Inspired by the rich Red Wing heritage, J-Crew is offering these timeless classics that wear well in the office or studio. View the collection here.
Related links,
http://www.redwingshoes.com/
http://www.vasque.com/
http://www.vibram.com/
