Komrads is a sustainable sneaker brand from Belgium that aims to create circular shoes with the least possible impact on our planet. With respect for people and nature and “radical transparency”, the label produces sneakers for women and men inspired by nostalgic design from completely reused and recycled materials.
origins
The label was born as a homage to the Komrads sneakers of the Soviet-era Czech shoe company Czech Boot Company, which developed the iconic shoe model in the 1950s as a symbol of anti-capitalism. Belgian couple Greet Goegebuer and Mark Vandevelde revived it in a sustainable version in 2015, re-establishing Komrads as a modern, rebellious and eco-friendly brand.
“Being a no-waste business, we decided to recycle an old but strong brand with history. Together we are not rewriting history, we are rewriting the future. A future where neither life nor the planet goes to waste,” say the founders on the brand’s website.
evolution
Starting with sustainably produced sneakers made from recycled cotton, Komrads now makes its sneakers from all sorts of reused and recycled materials such as apple leather made from apple waste and recycled rubber. Designed in Belgium, all of the brand’s shoes are manufactured in Portugal under eco-fair and ethical conditions.
Current
Komrads has made sustainability part of its DNA and is constantly looking for further ways to develop the most sustainable and ecological sneaker without compromising on quality, comfort and design. OCNS, the label’s latest sneaker collection, is made entirely from recycled ocean plastic. The brand’s products are available in various online stores in Europe, as well as on the Komrads website.