Influx

An environmentally conscious brand won’t thrive because it’s green; it will thrive because its products are infinitely cooler and better made than their counterparts. Only when eco brands supercede their competitors on style alone will the sustainable market place really fly. For this reason, Terra Plana is a precious rarity. Their line of footwear has a completely unique design; comparable to nothing that’s currently on the market. And the shoes are made with recycled materials.

The Worn Again line are 99% recycled, constructed primarily with material from old sport coats. And like sport coats, the shoes close with a button flap. Worn Agains also feature “recycled regurgitated rubber” soles (which appear like a light-colored camo), recycled foam insoles, and water-based adhesives.

Not all the Terra Plana designs are as thoroughly recycled as the Worn Again, but each has an “eco factor” listed in the description, and most have recycled components. Some also have ergonomic intelligence, such as the Liu, which was built around the principles of the Alexander Technique.

Terra Plana raises the bar on good green branding. Even without 100% eco-friendly materials in all of their designs, they have built an identity around their environmental commitment while churning out products that are just plain cool. These are the standards we can hope to see as responsible apparel designers match their ethics with their aesthetics.

The 7 people who work at the consultancy write Influx Insights, but we are keen to encourage more guest writers. Sarah Rich is our first one. Sarah is the Managing Editor of Inhabitat and World Changing , as well as a freelance journalist and brand identity copywriter. Sarah has also written for Dwell, ReadyMade, Innovative Home and Snohetta.