It’s come to my attention recently that I have not been entirely fair in presenting a selection of eco-friendly products that work for both men and women. Since writing for the Green Buy Guide, I’ve realized that, while it’s relatively easy to find interesting, hip, stylish eco-goods for the ladies, tracking down equally cool goods for guys is a little trickier.

In tracking down products for this publication, I’ve come across hundreds of eco-businesses owned by women who design cool, interesting and stylish clothes, shoes and accessories specifically for women. When it comes to finding similar products for men however, I often come up short. Perhaps it’s because women buy more clothes, shoes, and accessories than do men, thus creating a larger market for their wares. Regardless, I’ve decided I need to work harder and uncover more green goods for my male readers. In the spirit of my previous post, I thought I’d start by introducing eco-boots that guys can wear too.

Timberland has a reputation for making high-quality rugged shoes and boots that keep the wet and cold away from your feet without sacrificing comfort. And with the introduction of their Earthkeepers line of footwear, the company has stepped up their environmental stewardship and made a real commitment toward treading lightly on the Earth. Shoes with the Earthkeepers label are manufactured using recycled materials and must meet design criteria around recycled, organic and renewable content, solvent-free adhesives, and reduced climate impact.

The Earthkeepers label includes both work and dress boots that are eco-friendly, comfortable and generally waterproof as well. If you’re looking for heavy-duty workboots, you might like the Earthkeepers 6-inch brown waterproof leather boot. The boot lining and outsoles are made from recycled materials that wick moisture away thereby keeping your feet dry all day, and the soles are designed for all-day comfort. These light-weight boots retail for $160 and are available in black, dark brown and brown. If you’re in need of a dress boot, check out these Earthkeepers Leather Chukka boots. Worn under dress slacks, these ankle-high leather boots are also made from recycled materials, are entirely waterproof and retail for $140.?

If you’re in search of Friday night footwear that you can feel good about sporting, NOVASCAS offers stylish shoes and boots that look like leather but are actually crafted from the finest microfibers and cruelty-free materials available. NOVASCAS products are 100% vegan, are produced in European factories and distributed by a few retailers in US, Canada and the UK. NOVASCAS’s Jacob boot is ankle-high, finished with decorative stitching and could easily pass for leather (at least from the photos). You can purchase the Jacob boot for $140 through the MooShoes site or through one of the other fine retailers listed on the company’s website.

While it’s easy to find eco-boots of any color and style if you’re a woman, there are fewer funky options out there for guys who want to mix it up and make a statement with their footwear. Vegetarian Shoes makes unforgettable footwear using microfibers and biodegradable synthetics (including something called Stretch Fake Suede) in worker-friendly European factories. These shoes are cruelty-free and made-to-order according to your specifications and measurements. Check out these Airseal Paraboots in bright green! These “military-style” 10-eyelet boots are made from Vegetan Micro-microfibre uppers and look, wear, and feel like real leather. Vegetarian Shoes also makes the Acton Boot - a good choice if you’re looking for a tall boot that doesn’t need to be unlaced everytime you kick off your shoes.

I am always looking to expand my database of eco-retailers, so if you know about eco-companies - especially those making products for both men and women - feel free to drop me a line and let me know what’s up. Here’s hoping you can find eco-boots that suit your tastes and that will keep your toes warm all winter long!

Tags: Cruelty-Free, Earthkeepers, Eco-Boots, Footwear, Micro-Fibers, MooShoes, NOVASCAS, The Timberland Company, Vegan Boots, Vegetarian Boots, Vegetarian Shoes

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This entry was posted on Monday, November 17th, 2008 at 8:00 am and is filed under Green Buying, Green Goods, Mainstream and Green. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.