KAPIRE UNIKAT

Production locations

• Italy

Working Conditions & living wages

The brand sources its materials from Germany (woollen blankets and cotton bags) and Italy (chrome-free tanned leather and polyester laces).

The products are manufactured in Italy. 

Materials

• Chrome-free tanned cowhide
• Woollen blankets
• Cotton
• Polyester shoelaces

The label uses only natural fibres, with the exception of the laces. These include chrome-free tanned leather from Italy and woollen blankets sourced from leftover stock from the Berlin label MOOT.

The laces are made of polyester, which supports the durability and robustness of the products. However, there is a risk of microplastics being released.

Packaging

The brand currently uses 100% cotton bags made in Berlin to ship its products. 
In future, the brand plans to use reusable RePack reusable shipping bags or BoomerangPack.

Water usage & chemicals

The chrome-free leather is tanned with tara and bark and rarely dyed with vegetable substances.

The use of residual materials and the handcrafted production in the company’s own workshop promote a resource-conserving way of working.

The company uses green electricity.

Circular product design

The individual components of the shoe can be taken apart if necessary to facilitate recycling.

As the shoes are manufactured in such a way that they can be easily repaired, the lifespan of the products is significantly extended and an important contribution is made to the circular economy. 

The label consciously focuses on a more sustainable use of resources by upcycling leftover materials, such as woollen blankets from a Berlin label. This approach reduces the consumption of new resources and continues to utilise existing materials in a valuable way.

Circular business models

Shoemaker Karina Ranft runs the KAPIRE workshop, where shoes, handbags and purses are professionally repaired. The brand therefore offers an in-house repair service to further promote the usability of its products. 

Distance & complexity of the supply chain

• Düsseldorf, Germany
• Fermo, Italy
• The label is based in Düsseldorf, Germany.

Transportation

• Transport is by truck.

• Chrome-free tanned cowhide
• Italy

The cowhide used is not certified as it is existing stock that has been used in small quantities. In the future, KAPIRE UNIKAT plans to include certified leather in its production.

Product design

The range includes a unisex sneaker model ​‘Minou’, which is suitable for both men and women and is therefore gender-neutral. Each shoe is unique thanks to the use of upcycled woollen blankets and is given an individual, personal touch. 

The combination of leather and remnants of the woollen blankets makes each shoe an unmistakably unique piece. The careful craftsmanship means that the shoe is not only unique, but also durable, has a high-quality finish and can be worn in a variety of ways thanks to its timeless design.

Slow fashion processes

The brand works with a fixed collection that is not seasonal. Instead of producing collection-dependent products, the collection is continuously expanded with new shoe designs, which emphasises the commitment to greater sustainability and longevity.

Transparency on product

The product pages provide customers with information on the special features of the product, the materials used and the origin and manufacture.

Transparency on processes

In conversation with Karina Ranft, she is very transparent and emphasises that she is continuously working on making her products more sustainable step by step. One example of this is her plan to include upcycled leather in her collection in the future.