Thought I'd share a little correspondence I had this week. I really like the fact that Feelgoodz made flip flops with natural, sustainably sourced rubber + fair-trade labor. Last summer, I purchased some of their leather + rubber sandals...but received a pair of their vegan "leather" sandals instead. When I let them know about the mistake, they said to keep or donate the mistake pair...no need to mail them back. I decided to wear them, because I liked the fit + they needed to get worn. I'm not so happy about their end of life, however. Vegan "leather" is plastic.
As I began to look ahead at the year to come + at my simple wardrobe as a whole, I wondered if Feelgoodz would offer new leather styles. Their website currently shows only vegan options, so I sent this email of encouragement:
Hello- I just wanted to let you know that I am hoping you will bring your leather sandals back this year! I love the fair-trade values your company adheres too. The leather + rubber elements complement that so well for me, because they are natural + biodegradable! Thank you for being a rare, fair footwear option!
This was the response I received:
Thanks for contacting Feelgoodz! We will not be selling leather anytime soon. We have decided to stay with our Vegan Leather option because it is what is best for the environment. We will be dropping some new colors/styles this Spring so keep your eyes peeled!
And this was my response in return:
Thank you so much for your response. I know that some people feel that vegan "leather" is better for the environment. I just don't personally understand it. The oil derived material is plastic that will be around forever. It will contribute to ocean plastics + will break down into that plastic soup that ends up in the guts of sea life + eventually us. It would be better environmentally to simply stick with the natural rubber flip flops.
I know that all of the readers here do not agree with me about the use of leather, and I very much respect the values that inform this conviction. My point in sharing this is not that we need to agree...or even to share an update on a brand. It is that we have voices + the responsibility to share them. I believe that my emails have a better chance of making a difference than my silence (+ simply opting out of buying vegan "leather").
Whatever your opinion, let those companies know.
Love,
Jane
As I began to look ahead at the year to come + at my simple wardrobe as a whole, I wondered if Feelgoodz would offer new leather styles. Their website currently shows only vegan options, so I sent this email of encouragement:
Hello- I just wanted to let you know that I am hoping you will bring your leather sandals back this year! I love the fair-trade values your company adheres too. The leather + rubber elements complement that so well for me, because they are natural + biodegradable! Thank you for being a rare, fair footwear option!
This was the response I received:
Thanks for contacting Feelgoodz! We will not be selling leather anytime soon. We have decided to stay with our Vegan Leather option because it is what is best for the environment. We will be dropping some new colors/styles this Spring so keep your eyes peeled!
And this was my response in return:
Thank you so much for your response. I know that some people feel that vegan "leather" is better for the environment. I just don't personally understand it. The oil derived material is plastic that will be around forever. It will contribute to ocean plastics + will break down into that plastic soup that ends up in the guts of sea life + eventually us. It would be better environmentally to simply stick with the natural rubber flip flops.
I know that all of the readers here do not agree with me about the use of leather, and I very much respect the values that inform this conviction. My point in sharing this is not that we need to agree...or even to share an update on a brand. It is that we have voices + the responsibility to share them. I believe that my emails have a better chance of making a difference than my silence (+ simply opting out of buying vegan "leather").
Whatever your opinion, let those companies know.
Love,
Jane
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