With a trench coat
Style your KIM boots with a trench coat for THE perfect fall outfit !
With a long dress
High Knee boots look soooo good with long dresses! Add a more fashion touch by wearing it with a monochromatic look !
With a skirt
Skirts of all lengths go well with a high boot ! Opt for the mini skirt - high boot combo in summer and midi skirt - high boot in fall !
With stockings
Not only will wearing stockings underneath your high boots add dimension, but you will also be extra cozy!
The origin of the cowboy boot
The history of the cowboy boot dates back to the 1800s. They were initially worn by «cow-boys» who needed resistant and durable boots to work on the ranch.
Then, by the 1900s, cowboy boots were not only worn for work, but were also beginning to appear as a fashion accessory.
How to style it
Cowboy boots have become a must-have in a wardrobe!! You can easily style it with pieces that you already have! With shorts, a denim skirt or a nice western style dress, you’ll catch many looks !
Cowboy boots … in cactus leather !
As you may already know, Ecofino’s mission is to offer you trendy and stylish shoes, but also sustainable !
Since we are big fans of cowboy boots, we couldn’t do otherwise than create some for our Fall 2023 collection 😉🌵
Psst. If you wish to learn more about cactus leather, here’s one of our blog posts that you might like!
]]>First, the cactus are harvested on a ranch in Mexico. Only the mature leaves of the cactus gets cut cut. No damage is being done to biodiversity or the plant, because the cactus are not getting deforested.
Then, the collected leaves are dried in the sun and then, reduced to powder. No energy is required. Lastly, the powder created is mixed with a non-chemical product that will transform everything into a small paste. Stretched many times, this paste becomes cactus leather.
]]>First things first, here’s some interesting facts about this recycled material. It is made from water bottles originating from the ocean or from post-consumption water bottles. This synthetic is Vegan certified and Global Recycled Standard certified. It is DMF free, meaning that it contains no harmful chemicals, such as petrol.
What does « Global Recycled » means
The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labeling.
To learn more, we invite you to visit their website : Global Recycled Standard | SCS Global Services
Our supplier’s implication
They are sponsors of Oxizona, an environmental project that educates and protects forest heritage. Their mission is to create a conservation model that allows them to protect fragile ecosystems and conserve biodiversity in the forests. Their fight against deforestation and illegal logging is admirable. Their most exciting project is to educate children who will save this planet by planting trees with their schools.
]]>Here’s some interesting facts to start with. The textile that we use to create our sneaker is coming from the overproduction of the fashion industry worldwide. It is composed of 50% cotton and 50% polyester. For its production, it requires 0% use of clean water, produces 0% CO2 emissions and contains no harmful chemicals.
Certifications
Our supplier and the recycled textile are certified Global Recycled Standard. The Global Recycled Standard (GRS) is a voluntary product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product. The standard applies to the full supply chain and addresses traceability, environmental principles, social requirements, chemical content and labeling.
To learn more, we invite you to discover their website : Global Recycled Standard | SCS Global Services
Another interesting certification is Eurofins. It is a worldwide laboratory testing service that is a world leader in food, environment, pharmaceutical and agroscience.
To learn more, we invite you to discover their website : Worldwide laboratory testing services - Eurofins Scientific
Finally, the OEKO-TEX Standard certification acknowledges that our textile is made without any harmful chemicals and is harmless to human health. It is one of the world's 100th best known labels for textiles tested for harmful substances.
To learn more, we invite you to discover their website : OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100
By using this material for the creation of our JORDAN sneaker, we take part in the circular economy. If you’ve never heard of the term, it is explained by the fact that the waste of one gets transformed into the resources for another. In our case, clothing that came from overproduction is becoming our first ressource to create the textile that composes JORDAN. Curious to learn more about circular economy? Read this blog post : WHAT IS CIRCULAR ECONOMY
How is it made
Our manufacturers buy overproduction waste all over the world, then, these clothes are separated by color groups, since their fibers will be extracted. With these fibers, we are able to create threads that will be put all together to create pieces of recycled textile. That is why, when you take a closer look at your sneaker, you see different colors in the textile! Awesome, right?
With this process, it is possible to bring and create more value, because what is considered a "waste" reaching the end of its life cycle as a product becomes the beginning of the life cycle of a new product.
Let’s take a more concrete example, our JORDAN sneaker. This shoe is made with overproduction of clothes, the «waste», in this case, then, these clothes become the first resource to produce our sneakers.
Wiser consumption is a term for more responsible, more thoughtful consumption. Many people think that responsible consumption means that the product must only be ecological. It is much more than that. Thoughtful consumption is based on a way of thinking that integrates concern for self, for the community, for nature and results in the adoption of behaviors that aim to temper excess consumption (Sheth et al., 2011).
So to consume better would be to say that when you’re buying and encouraging companies, it’s important to make sure that the company is offering responsible products, if that’s what you want.
We launched Ecofino in order to bring a responsible option for the shoe industry. We respect the environment, animals, the planet and the resources it provides. To do so, we only work with suppliers who share the same values as us and who do not go against our principles. They are treated ethically and paid fairly.
Good news!
We will soon introduce a new eco-friendly material to our collection! Does shoes made from recycled fabric in water bottles or from overproduction of clothing that reduces waste speak to you? Well, it certainly speaks to us!
Do not hesitate to ask us your questions, we will be happy to answer them! Stay tuned to discover our new styles in recycled textiles 🤭
1 Encourage businesses that reflect your values
Make your loved ones happy by offering them corporate gifts that reflect your values and make considerable efforts in the fight for the environment! Buying gifts from local companies is also a great way to encourage the economy.
2 Wrap your gifts with recyclable materials
Why not opt for eco-friendly gift wrapping this year? Small ornaments and metallic packaging are super cute, but they can't be recycled!
3 Don't waste food from your buffets
Like many, I love a big Christmas buffet with comfort food and its unifying aspect! We are privileged enough to access abundance, let's not waste it. Share the leftovers with your family, friends and neighbors! Freezing the leftovers is also an excellent option! Pay it forward by carrying your leftovers in a community fridge. Click here for a list of addresses of community fridges in Quebec.
4 Are you tired of your decorations? Here's an option!
In the same spirit as a clothing exchange, why not make one for Christmas decorations with those around you? It makes it possible for you to have "new decoration" without having to actually buy any!
Tell us in the comment what you do to avoid overconsumption during this festive time! Ecofino team wishes you an wonderful holiday season! xx
Trend research
The first step in the creation of our collections is first of all the trend research. In the fashion industry, both clothing and shoes are developed seasons in advance so that everything is ready for the desired season since sometimes production times can be longer than estimated. For example, in the last few months we have been working on the Spring 2023 and Autumn 2023 collection for Ecofino. We use several tools to see what colors, materials, soles and styles will be trendy.
The creation of the collection
Following our trend research, Myriam, the designer will draw the styles to send to the suppliers by specifying the materials we want, the colors and even small details that we do not necessarily think as a consumer such as the color of the laces, the color of the stiching, the color of the inside of the shoe and more.
The production
Then, the sketches of the new styles are sent to production. The factories will create samples that we receive in order to test them and make the necessary modifications if needed before production in the different quantities actually begins. Then we receive the collection at our warehouses.
The photoshoot
The final steps, but which are not to be neglected are the photoshoot (to create content to share on our social media) as well as the posting of products on our website.
And that's the process of developing a shoe collection! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. 😃
Chrome that we can find in leather shoes can cause severe allergic reactions and even go as far as cause rashes. Especially, chrome contributes to contaminating urban atmospheres, in other words: our planet
Fortunately, we understood that and have worked hard to offer you shoes that are safe for your health but also for the environment.
In our DESERTO collection, each of our styles are consciously made of cactus leather. If you’ve never heard of that, cactus leather is an easy process that is safe for the environment. Briefly, the leaves of cactus that are considered mature are cut without damaging the cactus or even the biodiversity of the environment in which it grows. No irrigation system is required. Then, the leaves are placed to be dried in the sun for about 3 days. The raw material is then involved in a patented DESERTO formula. Then, we add the formula that will transform it into a leather capable of producing various objects; among others, our vegan shoes.
That said, not only do our shoes respect the environment, but they also respect your feet. This is what we always keep in mind when creating Ecofino shoes; the desire to offer you shoes that share your values.
]]>It's no secret that the textile and footwear industry is constantly renewing itself and creating new processes and materials, making it difficult to choose as a consumer what best suits our needs and values. In this article, we will look at the difference between vegan leather and ecological leather in order to better enlighten you.
Vegan leather
By definition, the term “vegan” is used when talking about a person who excludes from his diet any product of animal origin and adopts an animal-friendly lifestyle. Of course, if you give importance to the choices you make when shopping and prioritize products that call themselves "vegan", it is important to validate that the shoe is not made from animal products as well as made in an environment that respects animals.
Let's dig deeper. If a company claims that its shoe production is vegan, and therefore, without animal products, the shoe may be made of synthetic leather. Synthetic leather seems, at first glance, a good option since it is cruelty-free. However, it is not necessarily environmentally friendly due to the dioxins released during its combustion, chemicals used to make this organic material more sustainable and so on.
Some would call it playing ostrich and sticking our heads in the sand if we don't do more research and stop at the fact that our shoes are "vegan" to buy them. As mentioned above, yes, animals are not slaughtered for creation but the complete practice of production is not environmentally friendly and can actually harm where these animals live.
Now, let's look at the ecological term derived from science which has as its object the relations of living beings through animals, plants and microorganisms with their environment, as well as with other living beings.Ecological leather is therefore respectful of the environment AND animals.
At Ecofino, the cows used for the production of ecological leather are raised freely in a safe and sustainable environment. When the animal dies of natural causes, each component of it is used for various purposes (food, production of goods, etc.) with the aim of avoiding any type of waste. We have also taken care to replace the use of chromium with purely vegetable substances such as tare, valonea and rhubarb. Also, did you know that chromium is responsible for a lot of intolerances and foot illness? That’s why we have decided to remove this substance from the production of our shoes!
We have now highlighted the difference between vegan leather and ecological leather. If you have more questions about our production process, our ecological leather or any other subject, do not hesitate to write to us! It will be our pleasure to discuss with you.
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