Faguo

PRODUCTION LOCATIONS 

• Vietnam
• Portugal 

WORKING CONDITIONS & LIVING WAGES 

Faguo works exclusively with BSCI certified factories, which helps to ensure that they follow strict social and ecological guidelines. In line with this, the brand is also B Corp certified, in recognition of their efforts to produce more responsibly. 

MATERIALS 

• Recycled polyester 
• Polyester 
• Leather 
• Recycled nylon 
• Latex 
• Recycled latex 
• Natural rubber 
• Cork 

Faguo aims to reduce its environmental impact by using recycled materials. For example, their soles are made with 15% recycled and 85% natural rubber. The brand explains that recycled materials emit 40 – 90% less CO2 than new materials, and they also reduce the brand’s reliance on raw resources. 

PACKAGING

The packaging is made of recycled and recyclable materials, with little or no glue and ink used. 

WATER USAGE & CHEMICALS 

Faguo works with workshops that have signed guarantees to not use toxic substances that might harm people and the planet. Their products are also tested to guarantee compliance with the European REACH regulations. 

Due to their use of synthetic materials, Faguo’s shoes might release microplastics when washed. Consequently, at faguo​.fr and in their boutiques they sell Guppyfriend washing bags: the first practical solution against microplastic pollution when synthetic products are washed. 

Faguo’s shoes sometimes contain leather. Leather is sometimes chrome-tanned; a preservation process that involves high volumes of chemicals. Fortunately, the leather used by Faguo is chrome-free, and tanned in Europe. It will therefore have been processed in accordance with strict EU regulations. 

CIRCULAR PRODUCT DESIGN 

80% of Faguo’s pieces are made from recycled materials. In addition, Faguo recycles pre-consumer scraps from the manufacturing assembly line, such as leather pieces and edges of rubber soles. The scraps are shredded and treated to be reintegrated into other Faguo pieces. 

Unfortunately, the shoes are composed of multiple different materials, which will hinder their ability to be recycled. 

CIRCULAR BUSINESS MODELS

Faguo also has a post-consumer recycling initiative, and accepts worn out garments in their recycling containers. The pieces are shredded and used for new textile fibres that can compose the clothes of tomorrow. Garments which are still in good condition can be resold at a discounted price in their stores. 

What’s more, Faguo organises free, twice-monthly repair workshops in their boutiques. This way, they can give new life to any Faguo pieces that are a little worn. You can contact the boutique nearest you to find out more. 

DISTANCE & COMPLEXITY OF THE SUPPLY CHAIN 

Production locations: 

• Vietnam
• Portugal 

As Faguo’s headquarters are located in France, and their shoes are produced in both Vietnam and Portugal, their supply chain is relatively long and complex. This means that their associated transportation emissions will be higher, so fortunately the brand takes careful measures to transport their products more conscientiously. 

TRANSPORTATION 

Faguo has banned air transportation in their supply chain, and has minimised their use of road transportation too. Instead, they prioritise sea freight to lower their CO2 emissions. Additionally, Faguo plants a tree in France for every pair of shoes sold. 

• Leather 

The leather used in their shoes is gold certified by the Leather Working Group, helping to ensure improved animal-welfare standards. 

PRODUCT DESIGN 

Faguo offers both men’s and women’s shoes, in classic styles that will work with many different outfits. They are available in sizes ranging from 36 to 49. 

SLOW FASHION PROCESSES 

Faguo initiated an alternative movement to Black Friday that encourages more reasonable consumerism: the Make Friday Green Again collective. This is the 1^st alternative to Black Friday that brings together over 1200 brands to make more people aware about climate change. 

However, as Faguo’s products are not made to order, some of their shoes are currently available at a discounted price on their website. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PRODUCT

Faguo provides high levels of transparency on their product pages. For example, their low-top sneakers state that they contain 54% recycled materials, but will release plastic microfibres into the environment during washing. This level of transparency, in recognising both the positives and negatives of their designs, is commendable. 

Additionally, Faguo is the first brand to display the Carbon Footprint calculation of each piece on the label through a QR code to scan. Besides their desire for absolute transparency, communicating the carbon impact of each Faguo piece shows how every purchase plays a role in climate change. 

TRANSPARENCY ON PROCESSES

On Faguo’s website, you can find their Code of Conduct, detailed information about the actions they take to reduce their CO2 emissions, the materials they use, and the countries in which they manufacture. Faguo could take this transparency a step further by sharing their specific manufacturing facilities.