United By Blue is the maker of a few of our favorite things; we’re still mesmerized by their bison fiber-filled Sport Jacket, Albright Rain Shell, and Convertible Tote Pack. And now, there’s a new shoe in town from the eco-conscious brand that’s stopped us in our tracks: United By Blue has teamed up with Canadian footwear manufacturer SOLE to bring forth the completely sustainable SOLE x UBB Jasper Wool Eco Chukka, which also happens to look stylish and feel supremely comfortable.
And in case you had doubts, this isn’t some half-assed attempt at sustainability. Pretty much every aspect of this sneaker is designed with the environment in mind. Its sole is made from recycled wine corks, while the upper is insulated with bison hair that would otherwise be keeping some landfill out there warm instead of your foot. In addition, the Jasper Wool Eco Chukka features ethically sourced merino wool, energy-conserving algae foam footbeds (that also clean and restore waterways via their production), and waste-minimizing rice rubber outsoles. Now that’s a lot of nature you’re sinking your feet into.
And not for nothing, it’s a great looking shoe too. It comes in three colors — black, dark grey, beige — and can be worn with or without socks. The cork sole is a nice complement to the wool upper, which itself is very soft and cozy, almost like sweatpants for your feet. Plus, they feel light as air when you put them on, almost as light as their carbon...footprint.
SOLE x UBB Jasper Wool Eco Chukka is up on Kickstarter as of today, so now’s your chance to invest in this new shoe innovation and by extension, the future of our planet. Early funders will get a pair of the chukkas, which will ultimately retail for $150, for as low as $95.