Egos wants to use their production in Nepal to stimulate the socio-economic development of the country. Egos was also certified by the World Fair Trade Organization in 2009, which means that the shoes are made in good working conditions. The brand has also been committed to certain charities for many years and also works with organisations to help the women in Nepal.
They are also involved in various developmental projects with local NGOs, as well as provided financial support to orphanages and their workers.
The shoes are made of 100% sheep’s wool. Natural wool contains lanolin, which makes it resistant to dirt, moisture and dust. The wool is dyed with eco-friendly colours, which is better for the environment as well as the handler. The shoes also have a suede outer sole sewn on at the end.
The shoes are mainly made of one material and are therefore easily recyclable. And because of their hand sewing techniques, the shoes can be easily taken apart for each part to be recycled separately.
These products are designed in Denmark and produced in Nepal. While this lengthens the chain a bit, we can safely assume that the sourcing of the wool is also conducted within the vicinity of the production facilities. This length is also necessary in order to fulfil the brand’s mission of assisting the improvement of the socio-economic conditions of the country.
This brand uses only animal derived materials in all their products, however does not provide any specifics on the ethical nature of the sourcing. We do not know if the wool is mulesing free either.
Egos products are all 100% handmade. It is the definition of slow fashion, as one worker can only produce 2 pairs of slippers per day. The shoes are also easy to maintain, so you can wash your slippers at 30 degrees or clean them with a vacuum cleaner. This allows you to determine the lifespan of your shoes yourself.
This brand provides a lot of transparency regarding their materiality and production conditions. Their World Fair Trade certification was verified by COSH! to be real and valid. However, they could provide some more transparency regarding their packaging and transportation methods. And the main thing we need more transparency on is the ethical method of sourcing of their materials, as they use only animal derived products.
Conclusion
For those who like to live comfortably, the handmade shoes of egos are the perfect pair.
