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SOLE™ Unveils Revolutionary New Footwear Line and Collaborates with United By Blue to Launch Groundbreaking Sustainable Footwear That Takes Less from the Planet and Leaves Less Behind at Outdoor Retailer Snow Show 2019
Industry leader in pain reduction and orthopedic health, SOLE™, releases 12 new shoe styles for everyday adventurers, made sustainable from tongue to tread that will redefine sustainability in the footwear industry
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, (January, 28 2019) — Orthopedic footwear specialists SOLE are set to begin a new chapter in their sustainable, supportive footwear story with the launch of their most ambitious collection to date at the 2019 Outdoor Retailer Snow Show in Denver, January 30-February 1 at the SOLE booth #46105-UL.
SOLE’s FW19 range includes 12 fresh footwear styles that prioritize sustainability without compromise. While maintaining the supportive comfort central to the brand, SOLE’s designers have considered each aspect of every shoe to maximize sustainability and blaze a trail for an industry that doesn’t do enough to minimize its environmental impact.
At the heart of the FW19 line is a proprietary new midsole made from recycled wine corks, collected by SOLE’s cork recycling initiative ReCORKTM. As North America’s largest cork recycling network ReCORK has collected and repurposed close to 100 million natural wine corks. Working with this incredible resource, SOLE’s scientists spent hundreds of hours developing the right formula to combine the incredible sustainability and natural beauty of ground recycled cork with the flexibility and cushioning needed for industry-leading underfoot comfort. The result is an entirely sustainable, comfortable and beautiful component that stands out from the crowd.
Building on the base of their unique midsole, SOLE’s commitment to sustainability, comfort and quality is evident in their selection of only the very best, environmentally-conscious materials.
Many styles include a patented Australian merino-knit upper that is breathable, moisture wicking, soft and durable. Made from ethically-sourced, natural and sustainable fibres, it’s as comfortable worn with or without socks, and will keep its ever-fresh feel throughout its long lifespan.
The insoles boast SOLE’s signature orthopedic shape and use algae-based Bloom Foam to partially replace petroleum-based materials. This reduces the environmental impact of the footbed while its manufacturing process returns filtered water to natural waterways. The footbed is treated with Polygiene® anti-odor technology to ensure the shoe never has to be thrown away because of stink, complementing the long-lasting materials to ensure a lengthy lifespan.
The natural rubber and rice rubber outsoles are made to endure any adventure, while being gentle on the planet. Natural rubber requires far less energy and petrochemical input to produce than synthetic rubbers, while rubber tree plantations suck carbon from the atmosphere. Rice rubber adds rice husks to the mix, making the most of an abundant natural material that would otherwise become waste in landfills, and adding durability to increase the outsole’s lifespan.
MSRP on SOLE’s revolutionary new Fall/Winter 2019 range will start from USD$99/CAD$129.
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SOLE has teamed up with responsible apparel company United By Blue to produce a shoe designed using sustainable materials in every aspect without compromising on quality, comfort or durability. In a time when the earth is under unsustainable pressure from human consumption, SOLE and UBB have collaborated to give customers a choice in footwear that looks good, feels great, lasts long and doesn’t come at the cost of the planet.
The SOLE x UBB Jasper Wool Eco Chukka is designed to be the world’s most eco-friendly shoe, made sustainable from tongue to tread built around SOLE’s new ReCORK™ recycled cork midsole and United By Blue’s BisonShield™ insulation.
BisonShield™ insulation is hypoallergenic and temperature-regulating just like the ethically-sourced merino wool that surrounds it. The chukka also includes SOLE's signature-shaped BloomTM Algae Foam footbeds with natural cork topsheets, Polygiene® anti-odor technology and natural rice rubber outsoles to give durability with a minimized footprint.
The idea behind the collaboration first sparked at the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards 2018 in November 2018, where an early version of SOLE’s Jasper Wool Eco Chukka, and United By Blue’s Bison Puffer Jacket were both recognized as finalists for their sustainable innovation, with the UBB Bison Puffer emerging as a winner.
The new shoes will debut exclusively on Kickstarter on February 15, 2019 with a campaign that speaks to consumers about the state of the footwear industry, while presenting them with a better option. Consumers who are hungry for more responsible, sustainable products have the chance to put their money behind something that really makes an impact in an industry. By giving their support, funders will get the shoes at a price that recognizes and rewards their investment in our planet, and a better option for footwear. These earth-friendly Chukkas will go to early bird Kickstarter backers for as little as USD$95/CAD$115 a piece.
To learn more about this collaboration please go to unitedbyblue.com/sole or yoursole.com/unitedbyblue.
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While footwear is an exciting new venture for the company, SOLE hasn’t lost touch with its core customers’ need for their best-established and award-winning product line, their signature shaped aftermarket heat/wear moldable customizable footbeds.
For FW19 the brand will expand on its footbed inventory with four new lines designed to meet specific foot health requirements. The new footbeds come in the recycled cork construction of the Performance collection and the super-durable and fan-favorite EVA construction of the Active line.
The Performance Wide and Active Wide footbeds provide all the regular support of SOLE’s signature custom-moldable footbeds, now with a wider toe-box to fit natural-splay shoes for increased comfort and balance.
MSRP is USD$49/CAD$55 for Active Wide and USD$59/CAD$65 for Performance Wide.
The Performance with Met Pad and Active with Met Pad footbeds feature SOLE’s signature shape with a metatarsal pad to support the natural resting position of the foot’s bones. This promotes comfort and circulation while reducing stress on the forefoot and the associated risk of injury.
MSRP is USD$49/CAD$55 for Active with met Pad and USD$59/CAD$65 for Performance with Met Pad.
All SOLE footbeds come coated with Polygiene® anti-odor technology to keep feet fresh through any activity. They all have SOLE’s award-winning supportive shape and they’re all heat/wear moldable for a customized fit to give your unique feet support where they need it most.
$1 from every pair of Performance footbeds sold goes toward planet-protecting initiatives and charity organizations.
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About SOLE
SOLE is a Canadian footwear brand, founded in Vancouver in 2001. Our mission is to help people live active, pain-free lives while having the least possible impact on the planet. SOLE has established itself as a leader in pain reduction and orthopedic health thanks to its award-winning and fan-favorite customizable footbeds. With millions of footbeds sold all over the world, SOLE has become the consumer's choice for over-the-counter orthopedic insoles.
SOLE's signature shape has been proven time and again to eradicate foot pain and fatigue, and prevent injury while improving orthopedic alignment issues, athletic performance, posture, and foot and ankle mechanics. SOLE's dynamic support reduces strain put on vulnerable parts of the foot. The supportive high arch, metatarsal pad, and deep heel cup promote the foot's natural alignment and drastically reduce discomfort caused by plantar fasciitis and other common orthopedic conditions.
Building on the success of our footbeds, we launched into footwear that is great for your feet and gentle on the earth. We strongly believe that we have a responsibility to consider the impact our actions have on the environment, which is why we’re blazing a trail for sustainability in footwear. From product design and development, to material sourcing and creation, we are committed to providing quality and comfort that doesn't come at the cost of the planet. In 2008, we launched our cork recycling initiative ReCORK, which takes natural wine corks and turns them into a carbon-negative raw material that replaces petroleum-based foams and plastics in consumer products. We’ve recycled 100 million corks to date, and we are just getting started. Learn more about what we do and how we do it at yoursole.com.
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