Mihai - Cristian Ioniță
The London-based company's grape skin shoes are meant to replace traditional leather for a more sustainable alternative that is at least as well performing.
To find out more about this innovative product and how it can open the road to new possibilities when it comes to making sustainable trainers, we talked to Daniel Rubin, founder of footwear companies Dune - a brand with a history of 3 decades and 350 stores around the world - and Lerins.
Photo source: Lerins
Daniel is the fourth generation of his family to be involved in the manufacturing of footwear.
He previously owned a factory in London where he created women's shoes for more than a decade, while designing, importing and wholesaling footwear for over twenty years.
Daniel Rubin founded fashion brand Dune back in 1992.
Lerins shoes, made with sustainability in mind
When designing the first trainer collection both for men and women, called "Palm", Daniel's team wanted to create "a sustainable and stylish trainer" that would fit well in any wardrobe.
The team's focus was set on sustainability and forward thinking, and we learned from Daniel that the Palm collection was designed in London and manufactured in a small family-run factory in Portugal.
"The Palm collection is brought to life through eco-friendly materials such as vegan grape leather, recycled sea plastic, premium gold standard leather, and recycled cork", Lerins' founder told us.
The company goes beyond just using sustainable materials in its products, as for every pair of trainers sold, it donates one GBP to support the deforestation project The World Land Trust.
The idea of making a fruit-based leather alternative
Daniel told us that "Lerins has been over a year in the making. During the pandemic I found myself looking for a sneaker that was both stylish and comfortable, a style that could be worn in a smart or casual way without being overly branded. It had to be sustainably made, I wanted to ensure we could control the supply chain, understanding the materials being used in every aspect of the shoe as well as who would be making them."
Photo source: Lerins
The founder told us that he was able to find a small family-run factory in Portugal that was interested in making the company's vegan grape leather shoes.
The challenges of making fruit-based shoes
According to the company's head of design, the biggest challenge when creating the grape skin-based shoes was finding a partner that would have similar fashion and sustainability values.
"White is quite a common colour in the sustainable footwear market, we wanted to offer something with a point of difference that could still be eco-responsibly produced", the head of design said.
"As a small start-up focusing on handmade, artisan production, we are also in competition with bigger brands that are looking to add a sustainable option into their offering, there is a limited number of factories in Europe that can produce in an environmentally friendly way", the representative added.
Finding innovative materials for the new sneakers
Developing a sustainable shoe meant that the team at Lerins had to get creative when it came to the materials that it would use for the new fashion items. At the same time, designers also had to make sure that the quality won't be a compromise that customers have to deal with.
Daniel Rubin said that "finding materials that were as sustainable as possible was key. When we came across the company Vegea we felt their values aligned with ours. They operate at a high standard and we believe it to be an incredible environmentally friendly solution in comparison to many other materials."
The vegan leather Lerins uses for its products is supplied by the company's Italian partner, Vegea. The material comes from leftover grape skin from the wine industry.
"Our design team continuously researches new materials and plant-based alternatives", Daniel told us.
While Lerins currently offers its sustainable sneakers only in the UK, the company wants to expand to other markets as well by the end of the year.
Expanding the product line with other sustainable fashion items
The Palm collection is just the first one with sustainable fashion items that Lerins might launch in the future. The company continuously looks at what other products it could create while implementing eco-friendly materials.
"We are motivated to be as sustainable and forward thinking as possible by restlessly reviewing our products, processes, and materials. We're excited to introduce new shapes and materials into each collection to reflect our initiatives", Lerins' founder added.
As far as the durability of the new product, Daniel is confident that the grape-skin shoes are very strong, since the material "is combined with vegetal oils and natural fibers to make a durable and leather-like product."
Photo source: Lerins
Sustainable alternatives, popular among customers
Due to this, fashion companies, such as Nike or H&M are constantly trying to offer customers choices that make a difference for the better on the environment.
Lerins is no different, and the company was founded to satisfy customers that want to dress well while improving our planet's well-being.
The founder told us that "since launch our vegan style has been the most popular highlighting an appetite for sustainable and alternative materials."
When it comes to the competition, Lerins is being focused on offering a sustainable alternative that doesn't compromise on the functionality and the design.
"Right now, we are very focused on offering a unique trainer that is both stylish and sustainable. Although sustainability is a significant factor, we want to ensure our collections are attractive, desirable, and maintain a technical appeal. We believe the brand ticks trend boxes without compromising comfort", the founder told us.
Lerins' objectives for the rest of 2022
Daniel said that, for the rest of the year, his company will focus on providing the same high-quality sustainable products, while also trying to reach new markets where other people can enjoy the eco-friendly fashion items.
As the designers look into other sustainable alternatives, we might see more innovation in the fashion market regarding classic pieces that are wrapped into nature-friendly materials.
Any thoughts?