On the road to eco-design

Driven by a strong desire to create more sustainable fashion, we at JULES & JENN have always been committed to using ethically sourced raw materials. That's why we began by working with the most sustainable material available for shoes: leather. Aware of the potential risks associated with leather, we carefully monitor its origin and processing to ensure that all the leather we use respects both people and the environment. In fact, we adhere to an " eco-design " approach, which encompasses all production methods that minimize the environmental impact of a product or service throughout its entire lifecycle.

Alongside leather, and in line with a general trend towards reduced meat consumption, we have chosen to develop items using recycled and upcycled materials, while keeping in mind our commitment to comfort and sustainability. This season, we are further intensifying our exploration of new, even more eco-friendly alternative materials.

Indeed, after conducting our first carbon footprint assessment in 2021, which allowed us to evaluate the carbon footprint of our activities over a full year, we identified concrete areas for improvement for our company. While our carbon footprint in 2020 amounted to 1,093 tonnes of CO2e (72% of which came from our raw materials), we also discovered that our best practices, such as upcycling, recycling, and product sustainability, had prevented the emission of 491 tonnes of CO2e! Determined to continue along this path, we invested in research to find, in partnership with our European partner workshops, increasingly innovative and environmentally friendly materials. Let's discover them!

Wood and cork

When we think of natural and traditional materials, wood often comes to the top of the list. It is indeed a very resistant insulator that is perfectly suited to the manufacture of furniture, but also… durable and environmentally friendly shoes.

At JULES & JENN, wood takes center stage in our spring collection, which cultivates a rustic spirit with our wooden clogs and heeled sandals— shoes that are as stylish as they are responsible. Even the rubber sole is phthalate-free, ensuring it's fully recyclable! But our commitment doesn't stop at choosing these noble materials; we've also made sure that wood waste isn't thrown away but rather collected and recycled to fuel the boiler that heats the workshop and dries the soles.

Also derived from the tree, but this time from the bark, we find cork , which has recently become a benchmark among plant-based materials, renowned for its resistance and protection against cold and damp. Containing a substance called suberin, cork provides excellent waterproofing while also offering a lightweight, soft, and easy-care feel. This season, we've focused on this fantastic material, designing mules with soles made from cork chips (ensuring infallible waterproofing) and phthalate-free rubber for complete recyclability. We told you it was 100% eco-friendly, didn't we?

Corn and apple fiber

In a period of rapid growth, numerous alternatives, some more natural than others, derived from the agri-food industry have recently emerged, leading to the production of 100% vegan products. This season, we have chosen the two materials that contain the highest proportion of natural ingredients.

This is particularly true of corn , a plant with strong and supple natural fibers that also happens to be a relatively water-efficient renewable resource. We therefore decided to explore this material by offering a 100% vegan sneaker made from corn fiber, manufactured in Italy. Indeed, our essential Velcro sneaker is getting a makeover this spring, showcasing a brand new version composed of 43% biopolyols sourced from non-food, non-GMO European corn and wheat crops. The optical illusion is complete, as even the lining and insole are made of leather-look microfiber!

Just like corn fiber, apple fiber also falls into the category of innovative, flexible, and durable materials. This unique fiber was developed to address the issue of apple waste disposal: it is made from recovered apple pulp and waste, which is dried, ground into a fine powder, and mixed with pigments and a binder. This very promising alternative material received the prestigious Green Carpet Fashion Award in Milan in 2018, a prize recognizing eco-responsible initiatives for more sustainable fashion. Used for the first time by JULES & JENN in the creation of our strappy heel mules made in Portugal, it's sure to make waves!

Flax and hemp

And what if we talked a little more about linen ? This 100% natural material, which we introduced to you last year, continues to amaze us with its many virtues: it requires no irrigation or pesticides, doesn't damage the soil, and is grown locally... Ultimately, it's THE summery, casual, and eco-friendly fabric we can no longer live without! At JULES & JENN, it's used for our women's sneaker, made with linen canvas manufactured in Northern France, a sole made of 70% recycled rubber, and embroidered eyelets without any metal parts to make it as recyclable as possible.

Finally, hemp also stands out as an exceptionally eco-friendly fiber. Like linen, it's a natural resource that requires no irrigation water, chemical inputs, or pesticides. But it also boasts significant durability: its canvas is twice as strong as cotton! For all these reasons, as well as its historical roots in French shoemaking tradition, we've chosen, in collaboration with our customers, to craft our future denim espadrille using hemp canvas woven in France, in the Lot region! Our partnership with the jeans brand Atelier Tuffery will result in an espadrille that is comfortable, eco-friendly, and locally sourced—what could be better?

But this eco-designed collection, made close to home, is just the beginning of a long-term strategy that will allow us to reach our goal of reducing our total carbon footprint by 30% by 2024. A huge thank you to our partner workshops, with whom we have learned hand in hand to develop shoes that are in tune with the times, a perfect blend of traditional craftsmanship and industrial prowess. Now it's your turn to proudly wear your convictions!