Scene & Heard

Evoco Wants the Industry to Come Clean

THE FOOTWEAR INDUSTRY has been very dirty, environmentally speaking. And while overall awareness of the need to clean up its act has increased significantly the past few years—and many sustainable initiatives hold great promise—there’s still tremendous room for improvement and clarity.

Enter Evoco, a components company founded in 2017 that’s on a mission to make genuine sustainable change happen. CEO Jason Robinson says the Toronto company’s efforts represent a step change in comparison to many other green initiatives, particularly the use of recycled plastics that fail to offer a substantial benefit in carbon emission reduction. In contrast, Evoco is all about closing the loop on unsustainable goods—for good.

“We use innovative technology to replace conventional petrochemical-derived materials by harnessing the power of nature to create high-performance, sustainable products,” Robinson explains. “We take great care to minimize CO2 emissions by using the carbon naturally stored in plants and not what’s stored in petroleum from 250 million years ago. We avoid the use of artificial, harmful production chemicals, such as tin-based catalysts and solvent-based blowing agents, which are standard in the industry today. Our products have enduring performance, designed to last through longer user cycles. And, at the end of a product’s life, our foams will biodegrade, returning to the earth to start the cycle again.” Evoco has aimed its eco-friendly efforts at insoles first. Namely, its FATES brand, an eco-foam insole made with up to 80 percent of sustainably sourced plants that cuts partners’ products carbon emissions by up to 70 percent. Customers include Vans, Timberland, Keen and Kodiak. “Consumers favor comfort, quality and the overall performance of products, and FATES over delivers on all these aspects,” Robinson says. In addition, though, he says consumers are concerned about

Jason Robinson, CEO, Evoco sustainability, and it behooves brands to meet those expectations. “People understand that even something as simple as buying a pair of shoes can have a negative impact on the environment,” he says. “Collectively, we need to take accountability to challenge the status quo, and realize that we are witnessing the beginning of a next gen material revolution.”

Speaking of, Evoco will expand into other components soon. “We’re expanding our FATES material to create midsoles, outsoles (TPU) and, most excitingly, a plant-based leather alternative (PBLA) for uppers,” Robinson says. “Our PBLA will be 85-90 percent plant-based and free of toxic catalysts. There’s opportunity in other industries, as well.” Evoco recently opened its own plant in Vietnam and plans to expand production capabilities in Europe and the U.S. to meet the expected demand.

In the meantime, there’s cleaning up to be done in the shoe biz. “The fashion industry alone contributes 10 percent of global emissions,” Robinson says, adding that as the world’s population grows, the need to find cleaner alternative increases. “As more people buy more clothes, that increases our global carbon footprint. But it’s also an opportunity for more sustainable materials to produce them.” Robinson adds, “We’re just getting started! Evoco will continue to push boundaries through our innovation pipeline to better support the footwear industry and significantly reduce its carbon impact.”

Tola Oseni

And the Winner is…

TOLA OSENI! THE New York native is the first winner of the Clarks Originals Wallabee design challenge in partnership with One School, a free portfolio school for Black creatives. Oseni’s design was chosen from a field of 60 One School graduates who were challenged to share their perspective on the brand’s iconic style combined with a celebration of New York City.

Oseni tapped into her “love-hate relationship” with Gotham. “I designed this Wallabee to celebrate the duality of New York and the eclectic soundtrack of the city,” she says. “This way, every step a person takes with the shoes is just as loud, proud and vibrant as the city-dwellers themselves.”

Tara McRae, CMO of Clarks, says the One School design competition exceeded all expectations. “Our goal was to support the incredible work of the One School and the unique opportunity it provides as a free portfolio program,” she says. “Additionally, we were thrilled to get to work with such a talented group of students and to see their perspectives on the classic Clarks Wallabee.” Clarks has already announced a second iteration of the challenge for this fall.

In addition to introducing fresh takes on Clarks classics, McRae says the partnership is in step with the brand’s broader objective to connect its rich history with its passionate fan base. “We dedicated this past season to telling the story of Clarks New York and how the Wallabee became hip hop’s shoe of choice with a documentary short directed by Set Free Richardson,” she says, noting the design challenge coincided with the film’s release. “In selecting the winning design, we looked for something that encapsulated the many elements of New York and represented the culture of the city and its inhabitants. Oseni’s bold design and vibrant color selection accomplished just that. It is a visual celebration of the city’s five boroughs through colorful motifs and screen-printed slogans.”

Orseni’s design (SRP: $170) is being sold worldwide on ClarksUSA.com and at select retail partners. A contribution from the proceeds goes to further her education and career. In addition, Clarks sponsored two scholarships for students to attend One’s School’s recent spring semester.