in Designers + Brands, Materials, Sustainable Fashion

Naya: Eco-Friendly Shoes for You

by Delia Montgomery August 1, 2011, 4:30 am 234 Views 3 Comments

Naya is a rather new brand of Brown Shoe Company, Inc., introduced to Feelgood Style a year ago, and born from the belief that shoes should be beautiful on your feet, soft on your step, and gentle on the environment.

You can buy Naya shoes online at sites like Amazon and in more than 60 independent and domestic specialty stores. Also find the brand throughout Asia, Australia, Canada, Germany, Greece, Japan, and the United Arab Emirates. It’s wonderful to watch an ethical brand take off like this.

What Makes Naya Green?

Whenever possible, each Naya collection includes:

Vegetable Tanned Leathers
Natural or Recycled Content Fabrics
Foot Beds and Outsoles Containing Natural Cork
Water-based CementsBoxes Made with 80% Recycled Paper Pulp, Soy-based Inks and Water-based Glue
Reusable Shoe Bags and Shoe Forms Made with Recycled PET

Naya has continued its partnership with national non-profit Soles4Souls for Renew Your Soles, a nationwide shoe donation and recycling initiative designed to keep shoes out of the landfill and help people in need. Since October 2010, Naya has helped collect more than 2,800 shoes through Renew Your Soles. Check it out and fill out the form to donate. If your contribution is un-wearable, it’s recycled.

Two smart look-books to share with you are:

Be sure to view their blog and read How Do You Naya?

Do you have a favorite eco-friendly shoe brand? Are you a fan of Naya already? Let’s talk footwear in the comments!

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.