20% OFF SELECTED STOCK EASTER SALE
Aug 21 2019
Wild Rubber | The Amazon and the Seringueiros
"At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon forest. Now I know I'm fighting for humanity" -Chico Mendes, leading activist in the struggle to protect the Amazon forest.
The Amazon is the only place on Earth where rubber trees grow in the wild, this is something that needs to be cherished. Harvested by seringueiros – or rubber tappers – this amazing renewable resource is used in the soles of all VEJA sneakers.
Since 2004, VEJA have purchased 195 tons of wild rubber directly from seringueiro communities in the Amazon. This in turn helped preserve 120,000 hectares of forest, while working directly with local people who rely on its preservation to survive.
Every morning, the local rubber tappers make their way through the forest they have authorization to harvest and tap the rubber trees following a specific path only they know. This circuit allows the trees to regenerate which is the key in sustaining the longevity and productivity of the forest. What an amazing process and really quite beautiful too.
This process is both a technological and social innovation, creating value within the supply chain and generating more revenues for the rubber producers. It therefore reduces the financial incentives of deforestation.
Organic Cotton | Agro-ecological Farming
The majority of cotton produced worldwide is grown in intensive monoculture crops using large quantities of pollutants and dangerous irrigation practices. This is unsustainable for multiple reasons, and the lack of diversity in a monoculture system limits the health and renewal of the soil, crops and surrounding ecosystems, as well as making the crops more susceptible to disease.
VEJA uses only fair trade organic cotton grown using agro-ecological methods without chemical fertilisers or pesticides. This means that the cotton is harvested from the same field as sustenance crops, integrating the cotton crops into corn, sesame and bean crops. Not only does this benefit the soil and crops, it also makes up the bulk of the farmer’s diet.
Organic cotton is used in the canvas, laces and uppers of Veja shoes. Veja have been ethically sourcing organic cotton through the same organisation for 14 years!
The cotton is purchased on a market-decorrelated price, meaning the price is agreed upon in advance with the families. This allows them to forecast their income for the year and ensure all costs are covered.
Ad Free | Investing in Reality
"Eliminating ads, marketing costs, brand ambassadors and billboards, means investing in reality rather than fiction. It means working back up the production chain and changing it. It means spending more time on the ground, rather than investing in smoke and mirrors".
It costs 5 to 7 times more to make a VEJA compared to other large shoe companies, because the raw materials are environmentally friendly and purchased according to fair trade principles. Such high standards come at a high cost!
Raw material producers are thus more justly compensated, social and environmental impacts are constantly optimised, and sneakers are manufactured in conditions where everyone gets the respect they deserve.
VEJA choose to invest in reality, not fiction. They know that you can't take without giving back and they put all they can into the things that will make a real difference.
VEJA rely on collective intelligence rather than marketing hype. A brand with a conscience that we can all get behind.
From plastic bottles to sneakers | Innovation and dedication
Light, breathable and waterproof, B-Mesh is an innovative fabric made entirely out of recycled polyester (polyethylene terephthalate or PET). B-Mesh is made in Santo André in Brazil from plastic bottles that are collected, sorted, and then transformed into plastic flakes. These flakes are then turned into polyester fibre through extrusion. On average, 3 plastic bottles are needed to make a pair of VEJA.
Hexamesh, which is a combination of two threads layered together. The resistant base is made of recycled PET (plastic bottles). The top of the knit is a hexagonal pattern made of organic cotton. In total, Hexamesh is 30% PET and 70% organic cotton. Next, the Campo, which is made from corn leather or cuir de maïs. Specifically, it’s made of cotton coated by a vegetal PU which is composed of 50% corn waste from the food industry and 50% PU. Innovative, durable, and guilt-free, these new styles can be part of your five plus a day.
Veja have been out here for over 14 years, proving that ethical manufacturing in the fashion industry can be possible.
Shipping & Delivery
Free courier delivery when you spend over $99.00.
Purchases under $99.00 will be charged $5.00 for courier delivery.
We are dispatching orders daily / within 1-2 working days of order being placed.
We aim to deliver all NZ orders with a 1-3 day courier service ~ But during these wild Covid times deliveries may take 1 to 3 working days to be delivered.
We strongly recommend choosing "Local Pick-Up" / "In-Store Pick-Up" if you live in Wellington.
Click here for detailed shipping information
Customer Care
We love to look after our customers and answer all your questions the best we can. From finding out about online orders, what payment methods are provided, warranties and everything else in-between, we aim to aid you during your time of great great need. In saying all of that, if you'd rather just read up on everything follow the link!
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Returns & Refunds
Full price purchases placed online are eligible to be returned for an exchange, store credit, or refund providing your returns items fit our returns policy conditions outlined below if you contact us within 48 hours of receiving your order.
Contact must be made via [email protected] within 48 hours of receiving the goods advising us of return.
Returned Items must be unused, with the original tags & packaging still attached to the product. All footwear must be returned in the original shoe box, sunglasses and jewellery in the original case & box.
Shipping and handling is non refundable and returns are the customers responsibility until they reach Good as Gold Ltd.
Discounted items or Items purchased with special offer discount codes are final sale and cannot be returned or refunded.
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