Based in Rio de Janeiro, Cariuma designs sustainable sneakers handcrafted using recycled materials like RPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) and natural materials like rubber, cork, and sugarcane.
“We believe in making things in a way that’s better for people & the planet.”
Cariuma
The founders left their corporate jobs and used their extensive industry experience to build Cariuma. They wanted to take a stance against the fashion industry’s wasteful practices and build a company for people & the planet. Designing products to be comfortable, lasting, and sustainable all at once.
As a company, Cariuma has some great attributes. They are transparent, dedicated to looking after their workers with a high level of traceability. They work hard to improve their processes regularly, including reducing and reusing their own waste. Plus, they give back where they can by donating sneakers to Soles4Souls and getting their hands dirty cleaning up the local beach.
Their range includes low-cut and high-cut sneakers in many colors, including the Pantone colors. They have leather sneakers, canvas, suede, and bamboo.
For every purchase made Cariuma will plant 2 trees, that’s one tree per shoe! They are helping to reforest the Brazilian rainforest and restore the planet.
Cariuma: Recycle Materials
Recycled PET – The majority of their laces, upper, labels, and threads use recycled PET made from plastic bottles certified by the Global Recycled Standard.
Other materials used in their products range from bamboo, organic cotton, rubber, sugarcane, cork. And mamona oil as a plant-based and organic alternative to petroleum for their foam insert. Many of their shoes are classified as 100% vegan too.
Certifications
- Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)
- Global Recycled Standard
- I’m Green Plastic
Other Kudos
- If you subscribe, they will plant a tree in the Brazilian rainforest in your name. Better still, if you buy a pair of sneakers, they will plant two trees.
- Their shoes are machine washable.
- All of their packaging is either recycled or recyclable.
- They ensure that no leather comes from areas that have been deforested for cattle farming, and their tannery is Gold Rated by the Leather Working Group.
- They use Bluesign-certified chemicals to dye our materials.
- Cariuma follows the International Labor Organization (ILO) guidelines, supporting ethical practices in the workplace, fair working hours and wages, and work-life balance in their factories. They even state on their website the % of traceability they have in their suppliers and manufacturers.
- They recycle and reuse excess materials during their sneaker-making process.
- Gently worn and returned sneakers are donated to Soles4Souls. You can read more about them in our article “What to do with your old shoes“.
- The team at Cariuma take part in clean-ups at the local beaches and plan to make this a regular event.
Have We Tried It
I bought a pair of Cariuma OCA High Sneakers to wear to work when my old pair were wearing out. Unfortunately, that was just before Covid 19 hit when we were in lockdown and working from home. As a result, I haven’t had a chance to wear them too much yet. I find them very comfortable and well-made, and I’m looking forward to wearing them in 2021.
Recycled Products
