Manual Production: For the love of the handcraft
Our Chala sandals are handmade in Germany because we love this handcraft. In the beautiful city Freiburg im Breisgau on the base of the Black Forest we produce our Chala sandals. Our manufactory has developed these past years as we now have enough space to pack in all the creativity, materials and manufacturing processes involved on a space of 300spm.
As soon as you order you pair of sandals we start by cutting with high precision the natural rubber sole and the leather upper layer according to the size you ordered and glue them together to a thin but robust and durable sole. After that we continue by punching the holes through which we will pull the laces in the coulour that you chose.
With your order of the DIY-kit you can become quiet the manufacturer yourself – it doesn´t matter how much experience you have with the instructions you will get them right and they will be really unique.
High quality and sustainable materials
For the production of your Chalas we use exclusively high quality materials originating from South Germany because for us high quality and sustainability are important to us. Leather, natural rubber and laces come from suppliers within our region this way we´re able to keep delivery distances short, produce less CO2 and support the local economy and put a statement against inhuman working conditions.
Another aspect is our own waterbased and soluble free glue we´re using to glue the layer and the rubber soles together. It isn´t acidic, toxic or polluting for the environment in any way. Additionally you benefit because our sandals smell only like they should smell: like the fine and fresh vegetable tanned leather after its tanning process.
The leather for the upper layer of our Chalas comes from the Bavarian region called Allgäu from a small rural Town called Tuttlingen. This natural leather is only vegetable tanned and otherwise completely natural and therefore extremely skin-friendly and environment-friendly
Especially our organic leather comes from animals that were given the opportunity to grow and mature on certified small organic farms with a natural-based diet. To make sure that the strict regulations are being followed these small organic farms are being monitored by the IVN (International Association of Natural Textiles) and the ECARF (European Foundation for Allergy Research)
Each piece of leather is therefore truly unique – just like your Chala sandals. Reliable and practical at the same time: the leather´s colour doesn´t rub off when you´re sweating or when it´s raining. Through its softness and its skin-friendly breathable properties it is kind to your feet and passes our own high standards
The natural rubber is the base of your Chala sandals and is being produced in the small regional city in Baden-Württemberg called Weinheim. We supply a small part from the Italian company Vibram®. We use it to create a sole that is lightweight and absorbs shocks. The producer uses thorough tests at independent laboratories to guarantee that the governmental requirements are being met and even kept at much lower levels.
Our laces come from a local manufacturer of straps in Baden-Württemberg. They are made from high quality Nylon Timbrelle® that are certified according to the Öko-Tex 100 product class II following the PFI-Norm regarding any harmful substances and are therefore safe to use and exceptionally skin-friendly which you´ll feel when wearing them on your feet. The laces are not only extremely durable but also comfortable to wear.
Our Poron XRD comes directly from manufacturers from the USA. It is a material with remarkable properties. Although it is only 2mm in thickness it optimally absorbs shocks and is therefore ideal for the use on hard surfaces. Originally it was developed for the use in protective wear in motocross sports as protection for the shoulders, arms and legs. We are the first manufacturer to use this high-tech material for barefoot sandals. Most manufacturers in the shoe industry use low quality materials like EVA or foam rubber because they are much cheaper but have a big difference in terms of quality and durability.
Piñatex®, since 2017 we´re allowed to use this exceptional material after more than a year of communication with the manufacturer that produces it sustainably by using pineapple plant leaves.
Imitation leather are available everywhere but there´s none that comes close to the properties of real leather. Many imitation leathers are mass production product where its feel, its breathable properties, the contact with skin and its walking sensation are questionable because it simply doesn´t feel good. Many imitation leathers are being mass produced and made from Polyester, PVC, Polyurethan or similar synthetic materials. The production of imitation leathers uses up a lot of energy and chemicals. Simply put it isn´t good for the environment.
Pinatex is the first vegan material made from all natural plant fibers (made from pineapple leaves that are a waste product) which comes close to all the properties of real leather. It is almost as robust as leather, it is extraordinary, extremely sustainably produced and absolutely 100% animal free, it is versatile, breathable, soft, lightweight, flexible and can easily be imprinted and be sewn and cut extremely well. It is almost 100% biodegradable.
Our own demand was to create a vegan sandal product that is made almost entirely from natural products, is biodegradable and shares the same high standards of wearing comfort, durability and sustainability as our leather sandals. Many things are possible with this new innovative material, for us the saying is definitely true “New materials for a new world” more information at (http://www.ananas-anam.com)
Sustainable Service: Resoling your Chalas
Because we care about the environment and want to make our product as sustainable as possible we offer you an exclusive service: we resole your Chalas. When you see that you need a new sole on your sandals then simply contact us and we´ll guide you through the whole process. For you and for our environment.
Courses
...coming soon: we´d like to share our love for the handcraft. That´s why we´d like to offer crafting courses for our Chala sandals in our manufactory in Freiburg. We´re going to inform you as soon as we know about the exact dates. Then it´s time to start crafting together.
