SOLK / FADE 101
SOLK is engineered around the principle of biocircularity – crafted with intention to leave no harmful trace behind, designed as; Made to Fade. This newly launched debut model is designed to be aesthetically pleasing, comfortable, and compostable, so that it can return safely to the earth at the end of its life. SOLK offers a holistic approach to shoemaking, each stage from design to production to disposal, is carefully overseen. Fade 101 and subsequent SOLK iterations intend to being ultimately harmless to nature. Every detail, from the compostable foam midsole to details such as aglets and thread, have been carefully considered. All materials used are screened against over 200 harmful substances by a third-party laboratory and tested for safe plant growth post-composting. SOLK encourages customers to send back their worn-out sneakers, to join a proprietary end-of-life system to turn them into rich compost.
Founders David Solk and Irmi Kreuzer worked in the footwear industry for more than 30 years – with experience at adidas, and at their own production company Shoefabrik. Witnessing the systemic challenges firsthand, they realised there was only one way to prove that a truly sustainable and desirable shoe was possible and set about creating it themselves. Pairing decades long experience in shoemaking with material innovation has resulted in a shoe entirely engineered to break down safely.
COMPOSITION
Upper: leather from a German tannery with robust environmental management techniques. The leather is chrome-free and heavy metal free. Outsole: natural rubber. Lining: the one-piece, zero-waste, knitted-to-shape lining is a custom developed blend of compostable yarns and plant fibres that are 100% biobased.
Laces & webbings: TENCEL™ wood pulp from sustainably harvested eucalyptus, beech, and spruce trees. This yarn fibre has been certified for biodegradability and compostability in various environments.
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