Meet Sampla: The New Sustainable Footwear You’re Going To Be Obsessed With
Long-time readers of missy.ie know that the environment and sustainability are really important topics for us. Which is why we’re so excited for Sampla, a new Irish sustainable footwear brand, to launch this week.
Sampla is launching its first collection of unisex footwear, developed with a sleek design and environmental sustainability at the forefront.
A simple, functional and timeless shoe that truly does set an example
The collection, modelled on the classic tennis shoe, is made in part using apple waste from the Italian juice industry that is repurposed into a 100% vegan material called appleskin™. The remainder of the shoe is developed using recycled and organic materials wherever possible, including organic cotton laces, responsibly-sourced, hand-carved super crepe and PU leftovers from the European automotive industry for the insoles. Quality, craft and durability have been carefully considered at every stage of the design process.
This timeless piece of unisex footwear will naturally appeal to those who seek out an environmentally conscious, minimal lifestyle. Taking a utilitarian design approach, Sampla puts quality and construction at the forefront while also taking inspiration from classic tennis silhouettes of the seventies and eighties. The sleek, clean-lined aesthetic crosses the divide from sports shoe to dress shoe and can effortlessly be paired with outfits ranging from light, floral summer dresses to activewear and jeans, or even worn to lighten up a more formal outfit. This versatility is essential to Sampla, reducing needless consumerism by maximising wear across outfits.
The shoes are produced in a small family-owned, traditional artisan shoe workshop based on the suburbs of Braga, Portugal. To keep carbon emissions as low as possible, their logistics partner sends the shoes using the most optimal route for each delivery. They are neatly packed and sent in 0% plastic packaging.
Based in Ireland, Sampla – the Irish word for example – is comprised of a small group of friends with shared interests in design, humanitarianism and the environment. Their journey started with a search for a pair of shoes that met three simple requirements: made with environmentally conscious materials, ethically produced, elegant, and affordable. Unable to find a shoe that matched these criteria, the team decided to merge their combined experience in design, business and technology and set out to create their own.
A tree planted with every pair
Ireland has the lowest forest cover of all European countries: approximately 11% compared to a European average of well over 30%. Teaming up with Trees on the Land. Sampla will plant an indigenous tree in Ireland for every pair of shoes crafted.
Sampla launches on the 27th of July. The only question is; which colour?
For more information checkout: www.samplafootwear.com and also check out Instagram for more about Sampla footwear.
