Let's talk about the unsung hero of your shoes: the sole. It's the part that makes all the difference between feeling like you're walking on clouds or trudging on nails. But have you ever stopped to consider what your sole is made of and how it impacts the environment?

Womads soles are made of natural rubber. Why? Because we want them to be highly flexible and light, but also because we care about sustainability. Here are some fun facts that make our rubber soles eco-friendly: 

1. Reforestation in Colombia 🌳🌱

That's right, our shoes are helping to plant trees! Natural rubber comes from the rubber tree, which is a crop that Colombian farmers are now cultivating on land that used to be used for illicit crops. By growing rubber trees, they're giving this land a new opportunity. 

2. Supporting local farmers 👩‍🌾🧑‍🌾

The cultivation of rubber trees provides income and employment opportunities for many people in rural areas. By using natural rubber for our soles, we support these farmers and help them to create sustainable livelihoods.

3. Rubber trees are eco-friendly 🌺🪑

The rubber tree is a sustainable crop for many reasons. For one, it's a renewable resource that can be harvested for latex production without killing the tree. In fact, a single tree can continue to produce latex for up to 30 years or more. And while it's growing, the tree is efficient at sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, which helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Rubber plantations also provide habitat for a variety of flora and fauna, so you can feel good knowing that your shoes are supporting local ecosystems. And unlike many other crops, the rubber tree has a very low waste output. After the latex is harvested, the tree's wood can be used for furniture, construction, or fuel. The latex itself can be used to make a wide range of products, from medical gloves to tires.

4. Great Grip 🌸🐾

Making our soles out of rubber means they won’t slip at all. To add even more security, we also added a cute detail that will leave flowers in your stride… The Womads logo is printed all over the sole to add even grip with the ground.  

5. Compared to plastic soles 🏭⛽️

Most shoes on the market use plastic soles, which are not sustainable and rely on fossil fuels for production. By using natural rubber instead, we minimize our use of fossil fuels and reduce our environmental impact.

So next time you slip on a pair of shoes with natural rubber soles, remember that you're not just doing your feet a favor, you're doing the planet a favor too. And hey, maybe you'll even feel a little more connected to the earth beneath your feet.