in Contests, Designers + Brands, Healthy Habits, Skin Smart, Sustainable Fashion

Wickedly Wonderful Hemp Footwear

by Delia Montgomery April 26, 2009, 2:13 am 84 Views 10 Comments

Little more than a year ago, Wicked Footwear in New Hampshire created a new adult collection of shoes and boots fittingly named Wicked Hemp. Co-owner Matt Mahmet described the venture as his “future-past vision” derived from his eight years in the footwear industry, and his personal interest in an outdoor lifestyle. Matt combined his work and passion with the hemp revolution, which was not so popular during his American history studies in college.

Matt converted a small farm of mountains, trails and streams into the Wicked Footwear headquarters where new designs are developed and tested. The Wicked Hemp division turned global August 2008. And a new wood pulp and hemp collection was created with projected deliveries soon, ‒ mid 2009.

Most impressive about Wicked Hemp footwear is that shoes are designed to last. Expect high function and comfort with all-vegan hemp and recycled materials.

The rugged Hemp Hikers collection can handle anything from casual walking to serious mountain hiking. The Wood Pulp collection is from spruce, pine and hemlocks that are mechanically compressed and extruded into wood pulp fiber strands without toxic chemicals. The outer soles in the men’s line are made from recycled tires.

Business is structured so that retailers can buy from stock versus advanced orders. It’s been a successful strategy, serving a growing list of stores everywhere.

Allow me to remind you there is a contest poll titled Best Sustainable Footwear Designer. Nominations are honored through May 31st, 2009. Read details and look for late June winner and runner-up announcements. The Wicked Hemp admirers, designers and friends are invited to participate with nominations.

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Written by Delia Montgomery

I am Delia, d/b/a Chic Eco on www.ChicEco.com, and established myself as an eco fashion guru by learning "who makes what in the world of environmental fashion and design."

Enjoy reading some of my freelance writing about environmental design, fashion and art -- from both consumer and supplier perspectives. You may notice I focus most on individual eco designers, movers and shakers.

From sustainable fashion apparel to paint and flooring, discoveries are a rush. I get my kicks this way. I also offer sales representation of earth-friendly designed products for wholesale buyers. Retailers may take advantage of my services with factory-direct pricing. Spend less time sourcing and prevent green-washed purchases!

My other forte is connecting suppliers with business-to-business tools. Aspects of my business vary with consulting services while I'm proud to be the aide that embraces unique and innovative gigs.

I'm originally a Kentucky Blue Grass gal who relocated to Maui early 2006 and the tropical Puna District of Big Island, Hawaii late 2007. Walk the talk is my motto here.

Early 2009 I constructed a yurt home office in a semi-urban setting on a tiny lot. My water comes from the sky, contained in a catchment that's not likely to dry in this rain forest. The electric is designed for solar conversion. I grow about 30% of my food organically, compost, and recycle to the hilt. Permaculture with a full eco system is my gardening style.

In fact, gardening is my ultimate joy. I seek gigs like design, weeding and planting between other jobs. My love is Hawai'i which has more climate zones than any state. There are frequent earthquakes here, typically under a 3.0 magnitude, and I happen to dig the vibrations. It's a wonderful simple life in paradise. As I grow older and wiser, I become more and more grateful.