All birds brings its wool shoes to Canadian soil
Leather, polyurethane and microfibre are just a few of the materials we’re likely all familiar with when it comes to footwear. But, what about wool? Thanks to the brand Allbirds, it can now also be found on shoes.
Joey Zwillinger and Tim Brown, the brand’s founders, chatted with Postmedia News about launching their wool-focused footwear brand in Canada, and why comfort and sustainability is possible in the footwear space.
Q For those who aren’t familiar, what is Allbirds?
A Allbirds is a shoe company that uses premium, natural materials to create unrivalled comfort, all with a minimal esthetic. We are on a mission to prove that comfort, design and sustainability aren’t mutually exclusive.
Q What makes it different?
A We’re always trying to find new uses for materials that naturally exist right in front of us, rather than relying on cheap synthetics. As a New Zealander, Tim saw the opportunity to create a textile from wool given the surplus of the material around him, and so for our original product we worked with one of the world’s finest textile mills outside of Milan to create a utilitarian and mindful material. The Wool collection uses ZQ -certified merino wool to deliver plush comfort, whereas the Tree collection utilizes FSC-certified eucalyptus fibres to provide a silky feel against the skin, with a breathable knit so you can dominate a hot summer day sans socks!
Q Is there a story behind the name?
A Tim is from New Zealand, and when the first settlers arrived, there was all birds, no mammals.
Q What made this the right time to launch in Canada?
A With Canada so close to our home in San Francisco, it felt natural to offer our neighbours of the north Allbirds. We thought the wool would resonate well with Canadians given its warming properties and we know Canadians will get behind our commitment to protecting environment.
Q Where can people check out the latest Allbirds styles?
A The full collection is on Allbirds.ca. We also have a limitededition Canadian colour-way that has an embroidered maple leaf to celebrate our launch.
Q What is the price point of the shoes?
A The men and women’s shoes retail for $135 and the Smallbirds are $80.