Nature to Sneaker - A Tale of Sustainable Footwear

Welcome (back if you’re a frequent visitor), fellow environment enthusiast and our dear sneakerheads! Today. We're here to tell you a little story, one that is very dear to our hearts. This one may lack the drama but makes up for it with passion.

 The tale’s protagonists are our newest Tree Sneakers and their fabric, TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers! Keep reading because this story is bound to be informative, innovative and most importantly, inspiring.

Why TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers?

Though the fashion industry dabbles in TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers every now & then, this miraculous fabric certainly isn’t talked about as much as it should be. Why then, do we use it for Tree Sneakers and why do we insist that this material catches the fame it needs? Simply because it is sustainable, can be produced without harming biodiversity, and doesn’t need the exhaustion of many natural resources, unlike other fabrics. Not only that, but TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers is also extracted from renewable raw wood sources, meaning you’re unlike to “run out”.

From the Botanic Origin to the Final Product

Creating anything is a very delicate and enchanting process. Our Tree Sneakers are no different. Here’s how we “sneak” a part of the forest to your feet:

• Wood is sourced sustainably from trees like Eucalyptus.
• It is then turned into pulp from which cellulosic fibers are extracted.
• These fibers are then spun into a yarn, from which our fabric is created.
• This fabric is then used to line our Tree Sneakers to offer optimum comfort & breathability, and voila! Just like that, you have yourself a nice pair of sustainably produced pair of really cool sneakers.

 Sustainably-grown Trees

Most creators may be able to do justice to a good shoe but can they promise and deliver sustainability at all levels of production? No. This is what sets Neeman’s apart. We ensure that our TENCEL™ Lyocell fibers are produced only from sustainably managed wood sources, meaning that the trees we source our fabric from are not only fast growing but also grown specifically for the creation of this material. We ensure that these trees are not grown in or around areas dense in biodiversity to ascertain the least possible damage to our environment.

Threats to Biodiversity?

The clothing and footwear industry has struggled for years on how best to produce “cool & trendy” products without paying little to no regard to what it does for the planet. According to Canopy, more than 150 million trees are cut down every year for the production of cellulosic fabric. This has resulted in less than 20% of the world’s most ancient, unique and biodiverse forests staying intact. Biodiversity is the basis of all healthy life on this planet, so this incessant deforestation at the hands of industry giants is not something any species on the planet can afford.

Thus, the fabric we use at Neeman’s is sourced from sustainably grown trees. We make sure that these trees are cared for in the least invasive manner and are planted away from old forests that are homes to forest-dwelling animals, fungi, birds, and all other forms of biodiverse life.