Our Sustainability Journey
Ever since the 2022 launch of iRi, our team has been committed to finding responsible ways of producing our uniquely colorful footwear — without sacrificing the original vision and care for quality that started it all. We're a team of four (small, we know). Small enough to know exactly where every decision lands, and flexible enough to change course when we find a better way. For us, sustainability isn't a PR stunt or a checkbox — it's just part of how we think about making things.
That said, we'll be honest: doing this well, within a complex industry, is not simple and cheap. We don't claim to have it all figured out. What we do is keep asking the questions — about the materials we source, the waste we reduce, and how we help every iRi product live as long as possible. We're still on this journey — and we'll keep sharing where we are, honestly. Without responsible businesses, there can be no responsible consumers.
FROM 0% TO 94% — RESPONSIBLE MATERIALS
First, what do we mean by "responsible"? At iRi, we call a material “responsible”, if it's bio-based (like our organic corn-fiber textile or coconut oil insoles), recycled, or upcycled. No greenwashing, just a clear definition we hold ourselves to. Since launch, we've been steadily increasing the share of responsible materials across every collection — without compromising the design and comfort that make iRi, iRi.
From 0% sustainable in 2022, starting 2023 as 46% and ending the year at 65%, to 94% (!!) in our first collection of 2026. We're proud of that progress, and we're not done. We've also been collaborating regularly with craft studios to upcycle fabric waste into new products (check out our upcycled coasters here and other upcycling projects on our Curation Page) — giving existing materials a second life instead of letting them end up in the landfill.
This sits alongside our no incineration policy, which means deadstock never gets destroyed. The goal is a product that's considered from start to finish: how it's made, what it's made from, and what happens when you're done with it.
Recycled Leather
Genuine leather or vegan leather — what’s better? We were never fully satisfied with either. Genuine leather lasts. Vegan leather avoids animal harm. But most vegan alternatives come with their own environmental trade-offs.
In 2025, we found a better option: a local supplier producing recycled leather, made by reforming and compressing leather scraps to GRS certification standards, with a 100% recycled polyester backing and water-based polyurethane coating. One thing worth noting: recycled leather is not vegan! Our vegan styles are clearly labeled as such on each product page.
Recycled Fabrics
From the earlier days when we couldn’t afford recycled fabrics (yes, they're more expensive than virgin materials), starting with Collection 06 in 2024, 100% of our neoprene, mesh and nylon fabrics are made with recycled yarns. These come either from pre-consumer waste — scrap material saved from landfill during production — or from post-consumer recycled PET, better known as plastic bottles, collected locally.
Organic Cotton & Denim
We introduced our denim styles with Collection 07 in 2025 — using discarded jeans sourced from a local vendor, repurposed into fabric for our heels and sneakers. For styles and socks outside of denim, we use 100% organic cotton or fabric made from recycled cotton fibers recovered from pre-consumer waste.
Better Outsoles
Our original “Wavy” outsoles launched with virgin rubber and urethane — partly because of cost, and partly because recycled alternatives were failing our quality control tests at the time, while costing nearly twice as much.
But we didn’t give up! By 2025, we found the right partners and the right technology. Our current styles now use 45% recycled rubber outsoles. We’re not at 100% yet — fully recycled materials still don’t pass our QC standards — but we’re close to something new. A completely new iRi outsole is launching in 2026 😉
Sustainable Upcycling Projects
We were met with the challenge that in shoe production and sustainable footwear manufacturing, not all waste can be recycled. As a small independent eco-conscious brand, we can’t change the entire system overnight. But we can control what happens to our own production waste and leftover materials. Our first step was an agreement with our production partners: nothing gets incinerated. Instead, materials are stored — a kind of material library for recycling and upcycling, waiting for the right use. With the right collaborators, we’ve since upcycled shoe waste into bags, coasters, and keychain charms.
Improved Sustainable Packaging
Our latest sustainable packaging is fully plastic-free — FSC-certified, 100% recycled paper packaging, with eco-friendly soy ink printing on everything from tissue paper to tape. Hangtags and info cards are gone; product information and care instructions now live directly on the shoe box, reducing waste. Our dust bags are now made from washable, unbleached cotton instead of disposable polyester — a reusable, eco-friendly alternative you can keep as a travel pouch, gym bag, or whatever you need.
Sustainable Shoebox & Dust Bag
The old white dust bag (to put shoes when you want to store or carry them) was made with plain non-woven polyester. We were shocked that many of our customers ended up throwing them away as they could not be washed or got dirty too fast.
Now all our dust bags are made with unbleached organic cotton muslin fabric! We designed them with more durable cotton strings so you can use them not just for iRi shoes, but as gym sack, mini backpack, etc.
After relaunching in 2022, our shoe boxes are now made of post-consumer paper and constructed to be assembled without the use of adhesive.
Tissue Paper & Tape
Don’t be sad, thinking our packaging got boring by having less materials! Our tissue papers made of recycled fibers are now branded with our logo and texts, all printed with soy ink in our signature yellow color. So instead of wrapping each shoe in a plastic bag, we are now using iRi tissue paper to cover them. Feel free to reuse them for new gifts or put them away in the recycle bin! From our previous PVC tape, we replaced all tapes into a recyclable paper tape.