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Cliff Drill for Splaff Inc Wins Best Sustainable Footwear Designer Poll

The contest winner of Chic Eco’s 2009 footwear designer poll is Cliff Drill for Splaff Inc. Perfected simplicity is where he’s at with only three style offerings for men and women. Read the previous entrepreneurial story and company history here on FGS.

Cliff has lots of supporting fans who took the time to write sincere favorable comments with their votes. A few of many testimonials follow.

SPLAFF has been making flopps out of recycled bike inner tubes, race car tires and natural hemp fabrics in an effort to keep them out of landfills.

I have been wearing Splaff Flopps for 13 years….actually I first bought a pair in Portland Maine while on a vacation. Though the hemp had warn through the original pair that I still wear, they are by far the strongest and most comfortable. My flip-flops have been to Florence Italy, St. Martin, Bermuda, New York, and have always packed easy and kept me comfortable.

I own his flip flopps and a beach bag. I love them and have used them for years.

Accessories are simply perfect too. Check out the pictured belts and guitar straps. They’re made from 100% recycled bicycle inner tubes and lined with natural hemp fabric, in plain or grommet styles.

The first runner-up winning designer team is Matt Mahmet and Erik Purdom for Wicked Hemp. Read their story on FGS. They offer a women’s wood collection that was just introduced to the market last April. Styles are made from hemp/wood pulp and vegan materials, cushioned sock liners, and lightweight durable recycled polyurethane soles.

The second runner-up winner is Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu for soleRebels. Read her remarkable story on FGS and view a few pics. The entire collection of her handmade shoes from Ethiopia are linked in the blog to admire online.

Eco footwear manufacturers are growing regardless of economy scares. It’s a rush to witness! However, many shoe manufacturers don’t credit designers at all. Such cases aren’t eligible for nominations. Well, they’re still great companies producing fab eco footwear.

The new competition poll is titled Best Eco-luxury Infant Clothes Designer. Nominations are accepted now through August 10th, 2009. Details forthcoming or write a request below in the comment box for instructions.

MORE RELATED ECO FOOTWEAR POSTS:
Famed Birkenstock Shoes Update
A Prime Example of Eco Footwear

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.

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