Nisolo's Ethically Made Sustainable Leather Boots & Tote Bag
Nisolo is a certified B Corporation crafting high quality, ethically made leather goods using socially responsible practices.
Through their sustainable leather shoes, Nisolo provides steady employment opportunities for shoemakers in Peru & Mexico, allowing artisans to support themselves and their families.
Nisolo uses sustainable practices such as eco-friendly waste disposal systems, leather byproducts from the meat industry, & carbon offsetting to craft leather goods that are meant to last a life time.
I’ve been a fan of Nisolo ever since I visited their Nashville showroom four years ago and want to share their good work with other conscious consumers.
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Ethically styled in Nisolo’s Lana Ankle Boots, J. Crew fair trade jeans, Nisolo Lori Tote bag, Retrospecced Glasses, & Purpose Boutique sweater
Are Nisolo Leather Boots Sustainable?
I believe Nisolo shoes are sustainable. It depends on your personal views of leather, but I believe that Nisolo’s responsible practices, use of leather by-products, and carbon offsetting make their leather goods sustainable.
This certified B Corporation crafts their products with responsibly sourced leather from tanneries that use byproducts from the meat industry. This means no additional animals were harmed in the making of your shoes.
Nisolo production factories have implemented eco-friendly waste disposal systems and their bags & leather shoe soles use vegetable tanned leather. Vegetable tanned leather is a chemical free process that uses tannins found in different vegetable matter.
To further their sustainability Nisolo has also partnered with EcoSphere+ to offset their production’s carbon emissions. For every Nisolo product sold, Nisolo makes a contribution is made to help protect forests in the Amazon Basin.
So far Nisolo & their customers have helped protect protected 89,666 trees from getting uprooted.
Nisolo goods are crafted to last which, in my eyes, makes them sustainable. You’ll learn in my product review below just how durable Nisolo products are. Their products are absolutely worth the investment because they are made to last customers a life time.
Unlike some fast fashion brands that rely on customers throwing out last seasons style, Nisolo ethically crafts high quality goods knowing that their customer is going to value the product for years to come. For me, I believe products that last are sustainable.
Nisolo’s Shoe Reclamation Program
On top of paying fair wages, using sustainable practices, & empowering artisan abroad, Nisolo also gives back through their Shoe Reclamation Program. Nisolo is committed to diverting shoes from ending up in landfills through their partnership with Soles4Souls.
The certified B Corp encourages customers to mail in their old shoes which then get donated to Soles4Souls, a non-profit that turns unwanted shoes and clothing into opportunity, by putting them to good use - providing relief, creating jobs and empowering people to break the cycle of poverty.
In exchange for donating unwanted shoes, Nisolo customers receive a $30 store credit.
Ethically styled in Nisolo Lana Ankle Boots, black high rise jeans by Kut from the Kloth & Grandpa Sweater from Brooke’s Collective
Where are Nisolo leather products made?
Most of Nisolo’s production happens in Peru where shoe making is passed down for generations.
Due to the growth of Nisolo, they have been able to provide steady employment for a number of producers who had never had a steady job before. Nisolo goes above and beyond with initiatives such as in-house financial literacy training program for the factory workers.
Through out the past four years with their financial literacy training Nisolo has been able to increase the amount of producers with a bank account from 10% to 100%.
Along with financial literacy training, Nisolo offers trainings topics ranging from technical skills development, health, nutrition, English, physical education, and even yoga classes to producers and their families.
About 30% of Nisolo’s production takes place in their partner factory in Mexico where leather work & shoemaking is a popular skill. At their partner factory workers make a minimum of 14% beyond the living wage for a single individual.
Nisolo has a beautiful showroom in Nashville that I’ve been lucky enough to visit a few times. The minimalistic space is airy and a perfect display of their beautiful craftsmanship and encouraging consumers to invest in high quality products crafted to last.
When I lived in Nashville, I sincerely appreciated that Nisolo hosted events for the community that brought awareness to the importance of ethical fashion.
Nisolo Review
I have a few different Nisolo products in my closet including boots, totes, and sandals.
Nisolo Lana Ankle Boots Review
I received Nisolo’s Lana Ankle Boots for Christmas and I’m absolutely in love with them. They are just gorgeous and I’ve been wearing them all winter long! The I did size up as recommended because the toe of the Lana Ankle boot is a bit narrow.
By sizing up the boots fit me perfectly. The boots are easy to walk in and comfortable. It took me a few days to break them in, but overall was a pretty quick process.
As a short & clumsy lady, I appreciate the slight heel. This adds a bit of height, but is still totally walkable.
Nisolo Lori Tote Bag Review
I bought the Lori Tote five years ago while I was in college and used it as my book bag. Despite my harsh treatment to the bag as a stressed out college student, it’s still a fabulous tote in wonderful condition.
Seriously, I took this to class for years, threw my books in it, carried my laptop around, and it is still in mint condition. I love the beautiful tone of this bag because it goes with a variety of outfits and can be used through out different season.
Ethically styled in J. Crew fair trade jeans, Nisolo Lori Tote bag, Purpose Boutique sweater, & Retrospecced glasses
I also love that it matches my Lana Ankle boots. I can’t say enough positive things about my Nisolo Lori Tote Bag. 10/10 would recommend.
Is Nisolo a Good Brand?
Yes, I’ve always been impressed with their products and 100% recommend supporting this socially conscious brand.
When I was in college I actually had the chance to sit down with Nisolo’s founder, Patrick Woodyard, to learn about his journey and pick his brain about social entrepreneurship. I believe you can learn a lot about a company by simply sitting down with the founder.
I met with Patrick about three years ago and still to this day remember our conversation and how impressed I was with his journey and focus on growing a socially responsible company.
I’ve had a few Nisolo of shoes & bags through out the years and absolutely love the high quality, comfort, and beautiful design of their products. While their prices are higher customers definitely get what they pay for in the durability of the goods.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Emily Waddell is the founder of The Honest Consumer. She has always been passionate about business for good and has a Bachelor degree in Social Entrepreneurship. She currently lives in Seattle where she practices imperfect sustainability. When she’s not writing, Emily enjoys supporting small businesses, clean eating, ethical fashion, & practicing slow living. Learn more about Emily’s journey starting The Honest Consumer.
For more tips & tricks on ethical fashion be sure to follow The Honest Consumer on social media.