FASHION
AVRE
Ground yourself in Nature | BY FELICITY CARTER
A
responsible, and not to mention stylish fashion brand with sustainability credentials aplenty, AVRE is the footwear brand that should be on your radar. Founded in November 2019, in California by sisters Julie and Connie, at the heart of their brand is sustainability — recycle, reduce, reduce — and female empowerment. How so? Well, just look at the fabrication: the signature repurposed threads are made out of recycled water bottles (yes you read that correctly), and there are so many pros as the innovative 3D knit-to-shape technology allows for minimize waste, while the form and fashionable design offers maximum comfort, helping women the world over to live an eco-friendly lifestyle. Founders Julie and Connie tell us more about their brand message, aesthetic and how they’d like to see their label grow. Tell us about when and how you first started AVRE? AVRE was founded in November 2019 based on the message of sustainability and women empowerment. With the spirit of the Earth and women in mind, AVRE was built to be defined as Authentic, Versatile, Responsible, and Empowered. We had a desire to make a positive and sustainable change for all. We needed to create a better future for our children and future generations. What are the pillars of the label? Sustainability, women empowerment, and
community. How would you sum up the aesthetic? Elevated yet responsible and sustainable footwear that is the shoe for any look. AVRE shoes are not just for athleisure, they can be incorporated into everyday looks as well. Today’s modern women are versatile, and our footwear should be too. Who is your customer? Our customer is any woman looking for fashion, comfort, and sustainability. AVRE has quickly become the go-to shoe for the “it-girl”, mom-on-the-go, and everyone in between and have been seen on celebrities like Jessica Alba, Nina Dobrev, Eva Longoria, Olivia Munn, Jamie Chung, and more! Tell us about the process from mood board to production through to selling, and the materials that are used? Growing up in the family business we learned how much waste and pollution the fashion industry created. We wanted to show that fashion didn’t need to come at the expense of our planet. By incorporating groundbreaking and innovative materials and practices we could design footwear that could be worn by all women for all occasions. Each AVRE shoe is comprised of threads coming from 8-10 water bottles. These P.E.T. water bottles are taken, wasted, and chopped into tiny pieces and melted and reshaped into yarn. From there the shoes are
28 | UPSCALE LIVING MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2022
knit with a 3D knit-to-shape technology that reduces waste by creating precise sizes and eliminating the creation of scraps. By using recycled threads, we can create footwear with 45% less energy use, 20% less water consumption, and ultimately less C02 emissions overall. We also partnered with Bloom to further our mission of sustainability by using their algae outsoles. In doing so we help harvest harmful algae from waterways that then in turn improve our eco-systems. Ultimately, we protect our planet, reduce waste, improve air quality, and provide clean water. Which is your current favorite style from the collection and why? My favorite style is our Infinity Glide in the white/blk because it’s bold and distinguished in its design. Very identifiable and it was our first baby. This was the first style that announced who and what AVRE was about and that we arrived. How would you like the brand to evolve? We want AVRE to not only be known as a footwear brand but a lifestyle. We want our message to be a way of life for all to encompass. We want to leave a positive impact on others and our planet . We hope to expand into footwear for not women but also men and children as well as other products like clothing and accessories.
