I love Kickstarter! Not just because it helps me to find the latest brands and labels from around the world to blog on New Labels Only but it is also an important platform to help campaigns and projects which have a very important cause.
Without Kickstarter, I would not have discovered Juta Shoes. Eventhough New Labels Only is based in London, I still did not know that Juta Shoes are also based in London too, around 1 hours away from NLO.
So lets talk about Juta Shoes. If you follow New Labels Only on instagram, you would have seen a couple of gorgeous Juta Shoes images and they have been receiving a lot of love too.
Juta Shoes is an ethical and sustainable social enterprise who produce espadrilles and slippers in London. However they are not your usual type of enterprise, all the espadrilles and slippers produced are made by socially isolated and underemployed women in London, Tower Hamlets, where one quarter of the residents face hardships.
Where did the idea of Juta Shoes come from?
Juta Shoes was started by Sabeha Miah and Joanna Hammer. Joanna is a very keen crafter with a fascination of product design, recycling and upcycling technology, and testing through making. Sabeha, has been running The Boundary Women’s Project at St Hilda’s for ten years, a place where local women encouraged o realise their own potential, especially individuals experiencing social exclusion or minority ethnic women facing language barriers.
Joanna attented a Year Here Bootcamp where she found out that 70% of women’s community groups in London faced funding cuts and that, in an era of increasing rents and austerity, organisations like St Hilda’s would struggle to find enough money to keep providing their much-needed services.
To help provide help maintain provide alternative funding, Joanna and Sabeha, who met through a mentor, co founded Juta Shoes.
Helping marginalised women
Personally I’m loving my espadrilles. This my first ever espadrilles and they are really awesome.
All the shoes are made by the women at The Boundary Women’s Project at St Hilda’s, which take around 2 hours to make one pair and they are paid fair living wage. In addition of improving their production skills, the women also get to improve their business skills with managing and handling invoices.
All the profits that Juta Shoes make are re invested back in the community. The profits are used on project-based employability skills like design, customer service, marketing and administration. By providing these valuable skills, these women can become independent and provide a living for themselves and also their family.
One more thing, it also provides lonely women at home a place to socialise and also meet new people, especially if the women are new to the country or the area, this will definitely help the to intergrate in the community and country better.
Really loving Juta Shoes mission!
So how good are the espadrilles?
I’ve had mine for a week now and personally I’ve been enjoying it. It is very comfortable and I’m not going to lie you, they make my feet POP!
The Our soles are made of jute, an eco-friendly material, which is woven, pressed, and vulcanised at a family-run factory in southern Spain, which are really comfortable.
The upper part is made from leather. The leather from local London leather factories, by taking the offcuts from larger designs. We save these scraps from landfill, and give them second life as shoes!
The thick rubberised soles are water-resistant, supportive and comfortable, while the leather uppers are treated with a waterproofing wax.
You know how much New Labels Only loves sustainable and ethical fashion!
The espadrilles are unisex and are design for all type of occasions. It’s minimalistic look and bold colour really looks the part. I wore mine with skinny blue jeans and I looked good. With summer around the corner, I can’t wait to wear it with shorts.
What do you guys think about the look below?
After a successful Kickstarter Campaign, Juta Shoes are now fully operational. They have different type of material for the upper part of the espadrilles and the slippers including vegan leather, silver leather, furry leather and vegan sheepskin.
I will definitely encourage you to visit Juta Shoes and do check out their range of espadrilles and slippers. Their website is http://www.jutashoes.com/
I would like to thank Juta Shoes for everything and especially for the beautiful, awesome and magnificient espadrilles.
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sincerelyophelia
awesome! that’s really cool! love espadrilles for spring and summer! cool concept brand too!
New Labels Only
Thank you!
Jessica
Those shoes are so cute. I will check them out. I never heard of that brand before.
New Labels Only
Thank you Jessica!
robin Rue
Those are amazing shoes! I love the concept of this brand, too.
adrienneaudrey
What a great cause. and the shoes look great too. I like the black ones!
New Labels Only
Thank you Andreinneaudrey! They black one are amazing too!
Amber
These are such amazing looking shoes! This company sounds wonderful.
Heidi
What a great company! I guess I’m behind the times on my shoe lingo, because I’ve never heard of espadrilles. I googled them, and they’re everywhere! I’m happy to see such a great company working to empower women (with a great product, too).
New Labels Only
Thank you Heidi. They are doing an amazing job!
One Creative Mommy
What a great company! I love that they are empowering women while creating such a nice-looking product. Love the shoes!
New Labels Only
Thank you Heidi! They are doing an amazing job empowering women!
Leo T. Ly
I like responsible companies that take care of their environment and their employees. I would checkout their shoes and their site. There may even be an investment opportunity.
1stclassrvadventures
I have never heard of that brand but they definitely look comfortable. Thank you for this review and the information on them
nlampert
This sounds like such a great company! I love that they’re eco-friendly and helping support the local community.
Author Brandi Kennedy
Those are so cute! I love the idea of the company too – it’s such an amazing thing that they’re working to empower and uplift the women they employ.
Carol Cassara
It sure sounds like an amazing brand. I am liking the design. It’s perfect for the weather especially for Summer.
Amanda Love
Those shoes are definitely something that I would get for myself. I love wearing comfortable shoes especially when I’m going to be running errands all day.
New Labels Only
Thank you Amanda!
Chiara Lisbeth de Lisi
This company seems really great! I love espadrillas, they are perfect for spring/summer!
Vibeke Johannessen
This is such a wonderful idea. And it a great way to help people and reuse things and instead of throwing it. Really love this 😀
New Labels Only
Thank you Vibeke!
Jessica Hughes
I love companies like Juta Shoes who are socially conscious and provide opportunities for people who really need them like the isolated and underemployed women in London. The shoes look wonderful too, I like the minimalist look of the espadrilles.
New Labels Only
Thank you Jessica! Juta Shoes are doing an amazing job!
Victoria
these are so cute and doing such great things.
mvazac
I love their mission. It’s a very noble one. I’m definitely going to check them out.
GD Blog
I used to have a pair of shoes like this when I was in the Philippines, and it’s really perfect for summer. I so love the style, and perfect for either men or women.
hello@prettyandfun.com
I must get a couple pair of these shoes. They look both cute and comfortable, plus they have the versatility to go with so many different types of clothing.
Kim
Very beautiful shoes! I need these in my closet!!
thinkmag
Upcycling is right up my street especially when it supports women and children. There are quite a few companies that are doing similar things and it appears the market is continuing to grow!
MyYellowApron
These shoes are so very stylish. Loved the colors also.
Cameron Dufore
What a good cause and they do look cute! Glad you like them!
Ana De-Jesus
I am a fan of any small independent labels, especially when they are eco friendly and for a good cause. Beautiful simple design as well! Would love a pair for myself, it would look awesome on my blog as well x 🙂
Ashlea
I have never heard of this brand but then I haven’t heard of a lot of brands not in United States. My cousin would love these shoes. I just have to look for her birthday.
Blair Villanueva
These looks cool! Sustainable product and also you could help for the development and livelihood of the local workers.
Krista Bel
these are not just beautiful they look comfy too
Luca
Such a cool story, thank you for sharing as I had not heard of NLO or Juta shoes!
Megan Anne
I’ve never heard of this brand before, so I’ll be checking them out! I love what they’re trying to do by giving back!
tia
how comfy are these?
New Labels Only
Real Comfy!
Tracy
Those shoes are very cute and the company sounds amazing! I always love purchasing from companies that make a difference. It’s so important to support those who do good for this world!
New Labels Only
Thank you Tracy!
Aarika
These are really beautiful shoes, and I love that they are made by women from The Boundary Women’s Project. Cool! I will be checking out these shoes for sure. Yay!
New Labels Only
Thank you Aarika!