Walk the ethical route with Etiko: Introducing a Shoe Collection with a Conscience

Walk the ethical route with Etiko: Introducing a Shoe Collection with a Conscience

“Realising there was an opportunity in the market for a genuinely ethical streetwear and footwear brand, I created Etiko”- Nick Savaidis, founder and director of Etiko.

Etiko, which is the Greek word for ethical, is exactly that. The brand’s mission, ethos and history is all grounded in ethical production and sustainable methods and practices.

Your favourite high top style sneaker made radically different than any other. The soles are made of natural latex rubber tapped fresh from a rubber tree. The Organic Cotton canvas and laces are hand stitched by Certified Fairtrade employees. We use zero animal glues and non toxic dyes. They even come in a shoe box made of post consumer waste! These thoughtful sneakers with added arch support are the best way to make your footprint on this planet a little lighter.

Their shoe collection, though unisex when it comes to design, carries both male and female sizing. As it is an urban, streetwear brand, you can expect, of course, lots and lots of sneakers! The collection includes slip-ons, high-tops (very reminiscent of the classic Chuck Taylors), as well as lace up low-cut sneakers. For those in warmer climates, their colourful collection of natural rubber thongs are perfect for everyday wear or for packing for your next beach vacation! There’s a lot to love about the line from their affordable pricing to their timeless designs. But there are some exciting innovations when it comes to the manufacturing and materials that makes Etiko oh so much better!

Etiko Thongs - 100% Vegan. Made Certified Fair Trade from a mix of natural and recycled rubber.

Take these low-top olive sneakers for instance. They may seem like your average kicks but they are actually radically different—the soles are made of natural latex rubber tapped fresh from a runner tree while the organic cotton canvas and laces are hand stitched by Certified Fairtrade employees.

This is central to the Etiko ethos— whose mission is to “to do as much good as possible, not to 'do no harm' or simply 'be a responsible purchaser’”. In an interview, Savaidis stated that he learned of the harm in the fashion industry from watching his mother handstitch garments for the Melbourne fashion scene, while being underpaid. He stated, “Later, I started reading reports about child labour and I wanted to buy clothing and shoes that did not support such injustice. I wanted ethically made items, and I could not find them. Realising there was an opportunity in the market for a genuinely ethical streetwear and footwear brand, I created Etiko”.

Your favourite low top style sneaker made radically different than any other. The soles are made of natural latex rubber tapped fresh from a rubber tree. The Organic Cotton canvas and laces are hand stitched by Certified Fairtrade employees. We use zero animal glues and non toxic dyes. They even come in a shoe box made of post consumer waste!

The shoe collection utilizes use zero animal glues and only non-toxic dyes; the shoes even come in a shoe box made of post-consumer waste! For their thong collection, each style of shoe, actually helps fund charities like Save the Children Australia and so, beyond the fair-trade practices and standards, the sustainable materials, and the eco-friendly manufacturing processes, there is a direct link to poverty alleviation as well. For consumers who want to know their garments and shoes have been made fairly with materials that “do no harm” then shopping the Etiko brand is a no brainer.

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