Product Review: Sustainable Footwear Options for Every Occasion
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By Ellen Rubin
I received shoes to review from Vivaia and purchased slippers from Kyrgies. My opinions of the company and product are not influenced by receiving merchandise and are objective opinions based on wearing the shoes and information from their websites.
Luckily, there is more than one way to achieve sustainability in your footwear. Using the definition: “designed, manufactured, and used in ways that are environmentally friendly” you can go either old-school, based on traditional and all natural materials, or new-school, where you re-use and recycle discarded waste to technologically manufacture new materials.
I’ve recently gotten the chance to sample both options. I received a pair of dress flats and sneakers from Vivaia and bought a pair of slippers from Kyrgies. Both are sustainable, but from opposite sides of the spectrum.
Vivaia – Recycling and Innovative Sustainable Materials
Vivaia offers a wide variety of shoe and boot styles, flats to heels, sport to dress. Their mission is to provide sneaker-like comfort in every shoe. I’m probably not the only person who has worn a pair of shoes because they look good…but hurt your feet.
I can attest that these shoes were comfortable the first time I put them on, both with and without socks. I didn’t need that break-in period that often results in blisters or think to myself “these felt much more comfortable when I tried them on in the store.” Vivaia’s site attributes this, in part, to their unique padded insoles. They are cushiony and flexible. Some of their styles even have pressure-relief natural Artemisia Argyi herbal insoles which makes them supportive, breathable, mold-proof, and moisture-wicking – a great way to avoid smelly feet in hot, humid weather. They mention that the herb may cause an allergic reaction in some people.
Their fabrication also adds to the comfort of the shoes. Many of their shoes use a knitted fabric made from Repreve®, a material made from recycled plastic bottles like water bottles. As of September 2024, they’ve recycled over 22 million bottles making their shoes. They use a proprietary knitting machine to create the fabric. An advantage to making their uppers from recycled plastic is that they can be machine washed. Styles that aren’t machine washable because of the sole can be hand cleaned using a cloth. Not only is PET a recycled material diverted from landfills, it’s recyclable. The box the flats arrived in proclaims that the shoes are made from 6 plastic water bottles.
For the wearer, this means that the upper conforms to your foot, especially significant in dress shoes that are usually cut narrower. The fabric moves with you and doesn’t pinch but expands and stretches where you need it. The knitting also allows them to offer some truly fun patterns and colors including plaids and animal prints. Some models are water-resistant.
The cut of the shoes also contributes to their comfort. I tried the square toed flats so I would get a wider toe box. My feet aren’t particularly wide, but I’m used to wearing barefoot shoes and didn’t want to go back to a pointed toe. They also offer rounded toe dress shoes and boots. Heel styles range from platform, block, or chunky heels, to low, more kitten-type heels. Their soles are made from anti-slip rubber – 60% of which is renewable, biodegradable natural rubber. The other 40% is a synthetic rubber. The company is also experimenting with other renewable resources such as hemp for their Aria 5 flats which use rice husks to add strength and durability to the rubber outsole, and sugarcane-based EVA creating a non-toxic and recyclable sole.
They offer a wide, wide range of styles – over 200 – for women. Usually, this type of range means waste. They address this issue by saying they use a cutting-edge 3D knit technology that allows them to reduce waste.
I also tried the Urban sneakers. Offered in 19 colors, either in wool or Repreve®, the sneakers incorporate the “sliders” style. The heel portion has a stiff rim that makes it easy to slide your foot in without unlacing the shoe. The tongue is attached to the upper so that won’t crunch down while you are sliding your foot in. I’ve seen similar hands-off styles offered in other brands and didn’t think they would be comfortable – that the stiff heel support would be too stiff and uncomfortable or cut into me when I walked. It wasn’t.
This is one of the few pair of sneakers I’ve tried that instantly feels comfortable and continues to feel so even after a walk plus a couple hours of errands. The sole is the sugarcane-based EVA and rubber combination. Even though I usually wear barefoot sneakers, the insole with arch support, the drop between toe and heel, and toe box weren’t uncomfortable. Often, if the shoe isn’t fit perfectly the arch support will hit my foot in the wrong place. I didn’t notice that with this shoe. They felt natural, and the EVA sole was as soft and responsive as the site advertised.
So far, the company only sells women’s shoes in US size 5 – 13.5, EU 35-46. Their size guide gives foot length and girth in inches and millimeters which will help you choose the correct size. I found them to run true-to-size.
Some other bits that I appreciated are that their boxes are FSC certified and made from recycled materials. The shoes were really well packaged, including the outside packaging they boxes came in. I appreciate it when I open a box of shoes and they look pristine rather than wrapped in crumpled paper and looks like they’ve been tried on by a gaggle of giggling girls.
They also offer bags and accessories that include wash bags for your shoes, cleaning kits, replacement insoles, socks, shoe accessories like bows, and most importantly, replacement shoelaces. I was shocked when I had to replace a pair of shoelaces recently and had a very difficult time finding some.
The company was founded in the US in 2020, and today they are sold in over 61 countries and regions, they have at least 10 stores, and the brand is carried in stores across the US, the Far East and Australia. They have a frequent buyer program and donate to a designated charity every year.
Kyrgies – Old World Craftmanship
Kyrgies are handmade in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (formerly part of the USSR), using local materials and labor. You can imagine that these same shoes have been made here for millennia. Using traditional craftsmanship and old-world techniques they create a product that is lightweight, flexible, warm, breathable, and durable. Putting my pair on a felt like my feet were getting a hug. They were comfortable to wear all day and kept me warm on a cold winter day.
While these are primarily house shoes or slippers, the rubber soled versions can be worn outside. Some of the features that exemplify their artisanal nature are:
- Wool that’s ethically sourced from family-run farms in the mountainous country from sheep with especially long fibers. The wool is Oeko-tex certified and there’s mulesed-free collection.
- Vegetable based soap, along with moisture, heat, and agitation is used to felt the wool. Felting changes loose, airy fibers and compacts them into a durable sheet that doesn’t fray or pill.
- Each upper is hand cut and all remnants are saved and used to create padding and the insole with any extra used for residential insulation.
- Since most styles are created from a single piece of felt, the finished shape is formed using a form or “last”. The felt is cut using a pattern that is 3 times it’s finished size, it’s then cleaned, pulled, pressed, sewn and soaked, then shrunk, dried, and beaten into shape over the mold.
- Leather soles are made with vegetable tanned leather using natural extracts of mimosa and quebracho trees for durability and comfort. Once the sole is hand sewn to the upper, the shoe is finished.
I really appreciate their raw materials. Wool is warm, yet breathable and temperature regulating so you don’t end up with sweaty feet. I’ve always worn shearling or fleecy-wool slippers but I wanted to try something that won’t shed the fibers or mat down. They always start off being a bit snug because of the fluff and then become loose once they become matted.
While Vivaia offers 200+ styles, Kyrgies offers only a handful, although there are usually a few color options available for each. Most styles are based on a slide slipper or house shoe. Their “Classics” slipper comes with a felted wool sole. They also have the “Molded Sole” style with either a high or low back which is available with either the leather sole or an outdoor version with a rubber sole. There is also a hand woven, rather than felted, upper if you need or want a less structured slipper. I purchased the “Tengries” model which is more like a bootie made from several different pieces of felted wool and comes with either the leather or rubber sole. I was a bit concerned that because they are ankle high, and I have a slightly higher instep they might not fit. They do and are comfortable, although they aren’t really a slip on but more like putting on a low boot. There is an elastic section under the front piece that makes putting them on easier. Once on, however, they feel great.
Looking at their site over the course of a couple weeks, it’s not unusual for them to be out of stock on something, probably because they are hand-made and in high demand. However, I received a text within a few days when they got a resupply on the Tengries model I was looking at so don’t get discouraged from pursuing a pair if it isn’t in stock this week. I got the impression that they sell out as soon as they make them but are always creating new stock.
Kyrgies are ethically sourced, biodegradable, and sustainable from start to finish. They use minimal packaging. My pair of slippers arrived in a sturdy paper envelope partially made from recycled materials and post-consumer waste that is also recyclable – no box too reduce waste. There was a cardboard insert so they kept their shape and arrived in perfect condition.
Their sizing is true to size and ranges from US women’s 5-14, US men’s 7-15.5, and kids 12.5-2.5. EU sizes go from adult 35-48 and kid’s 29-34. Most styles are zero-drop and they have some styles that will accommodate wide feet. Luckily, you can also purchase additional felt insoles in 11 classic and fun colors.
In many ways, the company is traditional and artisanal. They have retail partners in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. They ship from the US and deliver to Canada also. Otherwise, they have retail contacts for Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand on the site. They have a decent return policy, a rewards program, and also give back. When checking out you can donate $1 to plant a tree and earn reward points, and they are part of 1% for the Planet.
You can see the Central Asian culture passed down from generation to generation, respecting and perpetuating their culture in every pair of Kyrgies they ship. The company is ethical, sustainable, and employs traditional artisans who take pride in their quality craftsmanship and sharing their culture.
Final Thoughts…
On the surface, these two companies couldn’t be more different in their approach to making shoes yet they both produce a sustainable product, are ethical, focus on using and reusing resources so they aren’t creating extraneous waste, and offer comfortable shoes. There really isn’t much more you could ask from a footwear company.