Grand Step stands for fair working conditions, mutual appreciation and respectful interaction.
95% of their products are manufactured in Spain. This allows them to visit factories frequently, and to maintain close and direct partnerships with local manufacturers. In this way, they can guarantee ethical and fair working conditions for all employees involved in the Grand Step Shoes production process.
Their growing concern for the environment motivated them to pursue a sustainable process throughout their entire production chain and the intelligent use of resource-saving technologies.
They combine natural materials such as organic cotton, hemp, wool and natural rubber with modern, recycled components such as vegan apple “leather”.
Step by step, they work to reduce the biological footprint of their products, thus reducing the impact of their products.
In addition, the cotton they use is GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified, which means that they have undergone a rigorous control process to ensure that they meet mandatory ecological and social requirements.
Grand Steps manufactures its footwear from sustainable, recycled and/or biodegradable materials, but most are made from a mix of different materials, making it difficult to recycle the products after use.
However, Grand Step is consciously designing, selecting natural, low-impact materials and adapting production processes with its partners in order to achieve zero waste during manufacturing and increase the biodegradability of the shoe at the end of its useful life. Examples of this are the manufacture of shoes by the vulcanised method with natural rubber without adhesives, the use of vegetable leathers biodegradable in 30 days, the use of soles and technical fabrics with a high percentage of materials from renewable vegetable sources.
95% of its products are manufactured in Europe. Most of the factories and suppliers they work with are located in Spain.
The finished products are then shipped to their warehouse in Germany, where they manage all deliveries to shops or end customers. This significantly reduces the carbon footprint of each delivery.
In addition, one of their goals is to reduce CO2 emissions, for example, by choosing short delivery routes or preferably using resource-saving means of transport from the production sites to the shops or the end customer.
Although a large part of their products are made from natural and/or recycled materials of non-animal origin, Grand Step is not a vegan brand, as they use materials such as wool and leather in some of their collections.
However, they are aware that the leather industry is a very polluting industry, and that the usual chemical tanning process contains synthetic compounds that are harmful to the environment, as well as to people and animals. For this reason, all their leathers come from European dealers. They carry out the tanning process in an environmentally friendly way, without residues or toxic chemicals and using vegetable agents such as oak, fir or quebracha.
On the other hand, they use mulesing free and GOTS certified virgin wool, also of European origin. Most of the wool used is recycled and comes from Germany, from leftover organic baby clothes.
Their passion for contemporary design and high quality craftsmanship make Grand Step Shoes a unique, durable and sustainable product.
Consciously designed and ethically manufactured with quality materials, Grand Step shoes will last a long time in your wardrobe!
Grand Step Shoes is a transparent brand!
COSH! has been able to talk to the Grand Step team and they have provided us with detailed information about their production process and the materials they use.
Also, if you want to know more about their production process, on their website they have a video where they show how they make their shoes.
Zaključak
If you are looking for sustainable, comfortable and quality footwear, check out Grand Step’s consciously designed and ethically manufactured shoes!