Shoes That Bloom

“The future of fashion lies in a reconciliation between nature and industry. OAT Shoes strives to lead the way to that future.”

-Team OAT

Many believe that being sustainable ends with the standard, blue recycling bin or the occasional purchase of a “green” product. What they don’t realize is that sustainability, more importantly sustainable brands, covers a wide variety of areas with their unique products and services. OAT Shoes, a European company, provides footwear that flourishes with each step. On the tongue of every OAT Shoe is a sheet of paper consisting of a wildflower mix. The shoe itself is completely made out of natural materials such as hemp, bio-cotton, cork, and certified biodegradable plastics. When buried into the ground a beautiful bouquet of Black-eyed Susans, Spurred Snapdragons, English Daisies, Catchflies, Corn Poppies, and Sweet Alyssu flowers bloom, while the shoe, in an ideal environment, biodegrades within six months.

Their Virgin Collection alone has saved them 99% on water and 60% on CO2 when compared to other cotton canvas shoes. With results like these it is no surprise that parts of their collections are already sold out. Sustainability is much more than the standardized vision everyone seems to uphold. Visionaries like OAT Shoes show how much a single step in their shoes can reduce a consumer’s carbon footprint.

Oats Shoes founder, Christiaan Maats, will be presenting at Sustainable Brands 2012. The conference runs from June 4 – 7.