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Fashion is more than just looking good—it's about making choices that align with our values. That's where NAE comes in! Short for "No Animal Exploitation," this Portuguese brand is redefining footwear with style, sustainability, and ethics at its core. Since 2008, founders Paula and Alex Pérez have been unwavering in their mission to create high-quality, eco-friendly, and cruelty-free shoes that prove fashion can be both chic and responsible.
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From sleek court shoes to rugged combat boots, NAE combines modern design with game-changing materials like Piñatex (made from pineapple leaves), AppleSkin, and cork. Every step they take is a step toward a more sustainable future—minimizing waste, using fair labor practices, and sourcing materials responsibly.
By choosing NAE, you're not just upgrading your footwear, you're making a positive impact on the world. Let's dive into what makes NAE the go-to brand for conscious consumers.
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Ethical Makers:
NAE's partner factory, which specializes in producing top-quality shoes, is situated about 40 kilometers from Porto, Portugal. It ethically manufactures up to 350 pairs of shoes daily for NAE and other clients. The facility employs 30 people who work across 500 square meters in both offices and production lines. This factory was among the pioneers in recycling used car parts into new materials for shoe production. Additionally, the factory recycles all of its material scraps for various uses. To minimize transport emissions, all materials are sourced from the European market, except for Piñatex, which is imported from the Philippines.
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Materials: 100% VEGAN & ECO-FRIENDLY MATERIALS
In contrast to traditional vegan shoes crafted from virgin plastic, NAE’s shoe collection is entirely vegan and utilizes eco-friendly vegan leather alternatives. For instance, NAE’s top-selling range is crafted from Piñatex, a remarkably durable material made from pineapple leaf fibers. These leaves, typically thrown away, are sourced from pineapple harvests and processed, with any leftover fibers returned to the fields as fertilizer. This is an entirely eco-friendly process, and the company involved collaborates with pineapple farmers to provide an additional income stream for their businesses.
NAE incorporates organic cotton, which is cultivated without chemicals and relies on 80% rainwater for irrigation, unlike conventional cotton. As a Portuguese brand, NAE also utilizes cork, a highly durable and environmentally friendly material. Cork is obtained from cork oak (Quercus suber) trees. The process of cork farming results in a negative carbon footprint, thus having a remarkably positive effect on the environment. It is waterproof, hypoallergenic, and soft to the touch, making it almost ideal.
NAE crafts their vegan leather using a unique combination of microfibers, such as cotton, polyester, and nylon. Whenever possible, these materials are recycled to produce a durable yet lightweight fabric for their footwear. In 2019, they introduced their RE-MOVE PROJECT, offering two sneaker designs with uppers made from ocean-recovered plastic.
Sustainable Materials:
"We see sustainability as a path of constant progress. Every day, we take another step on this journey, seeking the most sustainable options to craft our vegan shoes." Paula and Alex Perez
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AppleSkin:
This exceptionally sustainable material is crafted from apple juice industry waste. Ethically produced in Italy, it is a low-carbon material that is both practical and remarkably versatile. Highly sustainable material made from the waste from the apple juice industry. Ethically manufactured in Italy, this low-carbon material is practical, infinitely versatile and stunning. This pioneering technology allows the waste cores and skins produced by the fruit juice industry to be reduced to a microscopic powder and used as a substitute for polyurethane to create a vegan material similar to the so-called "feather". The apple particles form the coating that is applied to the eco-friendly microfibers, giving a leather-like appearance to the resistant and durable fabric.
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Cork:
This material is durable and highly eco-friendly. It is water-resistant, hypoallergenic, and extremely soft to the touch, making it incredibly versatile and nearly ideal. Cork is produced by managing nature's resources. It is a natural material that is fully biodegradable and recyclable, with an extraction process that conserves water, is non-invasive, and respects the life cycles of the cork oak.
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Corn:
On Steam Bioeco is a corn-based material. It is washable and breathable. OnSteam Bio-Eco serves as a leather alternative made from corn. The method involves extracting and fermenting corn starch, which is then processed into a polymer and spun into microfibers. These are combined with recycled fibers and treated to create a breathable material resembling leather.
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Organic Cotton:
It is cultivated from natural seeds that are not genetically modified and without pesticides, ensuring it is safe for the environment and the farmers. This cotton is grown on land where the soil is allowed to "rest" instead of being constantly farmed, preventing soil saturation. Organic cotton relies on approximately 80% rainwater for irrigation, with the remainder provided by irrigation systems, though some crops are entirely rainwater-fed, significantly reducing its dependency on energy and other resources.
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Recycled PET:
Recycled materials are valued for being strong and lightweight. Recycled PET (polyethylene terephthalate) gives single-use plastic a new purpose. Converting a plastic bottle into vegan shoes reduces the harmful impacts associated with its production, preventing it from contaminating the oceans or the ozone layer if it were to break down or be burned. Although we advocate for the eradication of single-use plastic, we recognize the necessity to manage the plastic already existing on our planet.
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Piñatex:
Organic material is derived from pineapple leaves, which are byproducts of the pineapple harvest. The fibers not utilized in Piñatex are distributed as fertilizer.Piñatex is among our preferred options, developed through a project with which we have a strong connection. In the 1990s, Carmen Hijosa, a Spanish entrepreneur, began exploring an ethical, natural, and sustainable alternative to animal leather. Her research led to the creation of Piñatex, which inspired her doctoral thesis. Today, Ananás Anam, the owner of Piñatex, is a B Corporation certified company. The natural textile is produced in the Philippines.
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Microfiber:
Our microfiber is eco-friendly, hypoallergenic, breathable, and antimicrobial, with OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. The microfibers we utilize are sustainable and serve as a great alternative to animal leather. Resembling leather in texture, they are completely vegan and hold the OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification. This ensures our material is free from Chromium 6, a chemical that poses significant risks to the environment and consumer health.
NAE isn't just about shoes—it's about making a conscious choices! With its innovative materials, ethical production, and sleek designs, they're proving that sustainability and style can go hand in hand. Whether rocking a pair of recycled PET sneakers or cork-detailed boots, you're stepping into a future where fashion is kinder to animals, people, and the planet.
NAE offers a range of stylish and comfortable options that will make you excited to step into a more sustainable future. Join the movement, walk purposefully, and let NAE be your go-to for sustainable style!
Support Ethical Makers to Support a Healthy Planet!
All info and claims from nae-vegan.com
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