Stop, Look, Wear: Veja's Style with a Conscience

By João Paulo NUNES

May 5, 2011 - [London] - With its exciting ranges of footwear and accessories, Veja is a brand that has been on the radar for World Man About Town for a while.

Since it was established in Paris in 2004, the footwear makers have been growing from strength to strength and have never forgotten their eco-friendly and sustainable credentials. Instead, they have produced stylish designs while always striving to manufacture shoes and bags with a conscience.

Since it was founded, Veja has been working with co-operatives of small producers across Brazil that use organic cotton and wild rubber to create trainers that respect the environment as well as human and workers' rights. Even the packaging is made of recycled and recyclable cardboard of reduced dimensions to optimize efficiency.

Once finished, Veja trainers are transported by boat from Porto Alegre, in Brazil, to Le Havre in France. Upon arrival, the trainers travel in barges along the canals to the Parisian suburbs. The Atelier Sans Frontières (an association that promotes the social, professional and personal development of people facing social exclusion by helping them find work) then becomes responsible for storing and distributing the trainers to stores...read the full article