Sébastien Kopp and François Morillion decided to create the VEJA sneakers brand in 2005, with its headquarters in Paris. However, the creators decided that the production process of these sneakers was to be carried out in a factory in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, near Porto Alegre, Brazil.
The reason for this? To buy organic cotton without intermediaries, at a price higher than the market price but at the same time guaranteeing decent wages for the farmers. It was also to be able to buy recycled rubber from Amazon, which is used to make the soles of the already famous Veja sneakers.
Made in Brazil, Veja’s sneakers have been designed on a seamless wool fabric made in 3D. A material and a technique with which it claims to bring new degrees of "breathability, elasticity and comfort" to each of the models. To enhance their sustainable footwear character, it has been decided to make the details of the sneakers in castor oil and plant-based materials, thus reducing the use of plastics.
At the same time, the insoles and soles are made from a mixture of recycled and natural-based materials, plastic bottles and rubber from the Amazon.
A Transparent Supply Chain
Behind Veja, there’s a sustainable project that goes from design to production and transportation. In 2005, Veja sneakers were born in France with the idea of combining design and social responsibility in a single product.
The goal of the design studio is simple, which is to create sneakers that stand the test of time. That is why it decided from the outset to take production to the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, as the country is a significant producer of two of the raw materials most commonly used in manufacturing, organic cotton and rubber, which it buys directly from the producers at the source.
The sustainable process of Veja sneakers is not just about the materials. Staying true to form as B Corporation brand, it also ensures that the working conditions in their factories are adequate and contribute to the economy of disadvantaged areas in Brazil.
Since 2004, Veja has fixed the price of its organic and agroecological cotton in advance, in agreement with producer associations in Brazil and Peru. Since the price is completely linked to the market and its fluctuations, the contracts guarantee producers greater financial security. The brand is aware as to how much they are going to earn from the cotton before they even plant it.
VEJA is seeing an increase in global demand for its fair trade slippers produced in Brazil. A logistics team of 24 people, formed by Log'ins will operate a 4,500 square-meter warehouse, in the Ile-de-France region, with an expected inbound volume of approximately 430,000 pairs of VEJA sneakers per year.