Angulus

The shoes are designed in Denmark and are produced in Angulus’ own factory in Portugal. The shoes are all handmade by experienced shoemakers who enjoy fair wages. Conducting production in-house makes it easier for the brand to keep track of ethical practices in the workplace.

Leather

The leather is supposedly sourced in Italy, but there is no more information on this. The leather used as the lining is also supposed to be vegetable-tanned, the brand says. Whether the outer leather is chrome-free or vegetal tanned is also a mystery. Leather linings in children’s shoes are vegetable-tanned and the glue is water-based.

Rubber

The rubber of the soles is tapped from sustainable and CO2-absorbing rubber trees. Here we would also like to see more information on the forest management of the rubber trees and plantations. 

Wool

Angulus uses certified OekoTex lambswool (unverified) as lining for its winter boots. 

Pinatex

Angulus, too, moves with the times! We spotted the very first children’s shoes with Pinatex. Pinatex is the imitation leather beloved by vegans that is made from fruit waste, especially the leaves of pineapple plants.

Shoes are generally made of separable components which are easy to take apart and recycle. Leather products are also easily repairable, and being a natural material can biodegrade at the end of use. Rubber and wool materials are also natural and biodegradable. 

The shoes are designed in Denmark and mostly produced in Portugal, however some production is also conducted in China. We also know that some materials are sourced from Italy, but we are not aware of all materials and hence cannot verify the exact length of the chain. The brand also does not give us any information about the transportation methods, which makes a big difference to the transportation emissions, regardless of the length of the chain. 

The brand uses animal materials such as leather and wool, but they don’t provide information regarding the ethical sourcing of these products. Perhaps the leather is a by-product of the meat industry, and wool generally doesn’t require the killing of the animals, but we are not aware of the cruelty-free nature of the sourcing. 

They also use vegan leather materials, which are a great alternative to conventional leather, taking away any chances of harming animals in the process. 

Angulus has shoes made out of high quality materials such as leather, which lasts many decades. The shoes are timeless pieces made with care, and they also provide care tips and products to keep the shoes in good condition for as long as possible. 

Angulus provides some transparency regarding their production, but not much regarding their materiality and chemical use and transportation methods, directly on their website. Some information can be gained about the brand through their resellers, but it would be better if the information was easily accessed on the brand’s website itself. They also need to provide proofs of their certifications.