Have you ever thought about what happens to your shoes after you are done with wearing them? Simply put, they increase the non-biodegradable waste. Shoes made from natural materials like Leather (which is procured from animal skin) take 25 to 40 years while Rubber can take upto 80 years to decompose!
Synthetic materials take much more as they are predominantly plastic. With the rising popularity of healthier food, sustainable clothing and home decor, natural cooking methods and a plethora of ways for the conservation of the environment, it is also important for us to think of making our shoes environment-friendly.
This is what Hyderabad based brand Neeman’s does – creating sustainable footwear, from Merino wool to organic Cotton and even out of recycled PET bottles and tyres!
Neeman’s is the brainchild of entrepreneurs Taran Chhabra and Amar Preet, who have travelled the world and researched to find the best possible way to create shoes that do not harm the environment or any living being.
Sole companions
The shoes that an average person wears are made from many common materials such as leather, plastic, rubber, foam, and other synthetic fibres. Neeman’s took an alternate path and chose natural yarns. They are clean and made of renewable components. All of them can be washed and lasts so long that you will not opt for any new shoes for years.
The first brand to introduce Merino Wool shoes in India, it is indeed the brand’s most popular product. These unique shoes look classy and are breathable. Merino wool, sourced from Australian sheep raised on grass, water, and sunshine, is ultra-soft, just like silk. It is so fine that it would make you feel like your shoes are a second skin. They do not make your feet itchy like conventional wool. The yarn is such that it keeps you warm in the winters and cool in summers. The inner sole of these shoes is made of castor dean oil. The shoes at Neeman’s are machine-washable and odour resistant.
Neeman’s also manufactures Organic Cotton shoes. Branded Cotton Classics, they offer the classic and evergreen sneaker design as a nature-friendly option for your fashionable shoe-rack. This material makes the shoes super easy to clean and lightweight. The sustainable footwear can be worn for the whole day with comfort and they look stylish too. This yarn is renewable as well, making sure that the resources are growing as they are being used.
The most innovative venture of Neeman’s, the ReLive Knits, are shoes that are made from 100% recycled PET bottles. The idea is to make plastic yarns and spin them to form the upper of the shoe. These yarns are also sourced from other companies, although the assembly takes place in Hyderabad. They are available in multiple interesting colours that will help you move in fashionable footwear leaving no footprints – the Carbon one!
Sustainable Style
Not only shoes, Neeman’s also deals in more casual footwear, like Slippers. The footwear follows no gender binary, and can be worn by any person to look cool. The slippers can be washed and air-dried for cleaning. The outsole of these slippers is anti-skid for a firm grip and extremely durable. They are made from natural rubber and recycled tyres, thus called Eco Flips. They are made to last a long time, reducing environmental harm. The Eco Slides range is of a simple design, fit for a comfortable day-in, made from recycled and natural materials that renew with time, making your choice sustainable.
Neeman’s crafts sustainable footwear in a way that you can pair them with your three-piece suits, and wear them with a Hawaiian shirt as well. The versatility offered makes this Indian brand stand out, apart from the unique materials used for making the sole of the shoes – castor bean oil and recycled rubber instead of petroleum based materials.
Neeman’s goes a step further for sustainability by packing its shoes in a box made of 85% recycled waste paper, reducing the usage of paper made from tree pulp. These shoes do not require socks to be worn with them as all the sweat is already absorbed and released into the air, saving the fuss of finding a matching pair.
Available on Amazon.in
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