Brand: Zoolmates

Zoolmates is a sneaker brand that wants to bring the production of shoes back to the Netherlands. They deliberately do not participate in the fast-fashion rat race, but have a permanent collection that does not depend on the season. This prevents waste. The Zoomates men's and women's models each have their own last and are therefore of a higher quality, have greater wearing comfort, and experience less wear and tear.

Fair trade: The sneakers from Zoolmates are partly (the upper) made in Romania and the end product is assembled in the Netherlands. They visit the factory in the Netherlands once a month, and the factory in Romania once a year. The working conditions are good and comply with local legislation (public holidays, vacations, working hours etc), the minimum wage in Romania is a lot higher than the living wage.

Eco-friendly: The sneakers are made of chrome-free leather, a sole made of 25% recycled rubber, and an insole made of 85% recycled material. By bringing production to the Netherlands, the emissions of Zoolmates are a lot less than for other brands. In addition, the shoes are also delivered by a bicycle courier.

Locally produced: The shoes are partly produced in Romania and partly in the Netherlands.