INTERVIEW
EL NATURALISTA E
In conversation with…
In a special interview marking El Naturalista’s 25th anniversary, Partner and Design and Innovation Director, Patxi Sota, chats to Footwear Today Editor, Jack Cheeseman, about the company’s early days, his own origins in philosophy and politics and how creativity and technology are charting a new course for the future...
l Naturalista is the story of a group of people who one day dared to dream that companies can be spaces of commitment and social transformation. It is more than shoes, says Patxi Sota, Partner and the brand’s Design and Innovation Director; it is a way of life along with the three pillars that constitute it: Product, Planet and People.
“Our brand’s frog logo symbolises a balanced ecosystem, agility and the ability to adapt to every change. Changes on our planet now involve sustainability in all its dimensions: the environment, economics, the social sphere… like its frog, El Naturalista is adapting, seeking to strike a balance that meets people’s design, comfort and sustainability needs, while leaving the smallest environmental footprint possible.”
El Naturalista is a Spanish brand of footwear that started in 1998 and after more than 25 years researching and working for a direct positive impact on the planet, the main message at the heart of the brand is: “This is not a trend; it’s our core philosophy”.
Sustainable design
“Sustainability is defining our steps forward this year,” confirms Mr Sota. “The planet is asking us for help, and the design world has responded. Sustainability inherently means satisfying our current needs without compromising the abilities of future generations to satisfy theirs, thus ensuring a balance between economic growth, environmental stewardship and social well-being. “In terms of design, that means fulfilling requirements and setting an unforgettable example of awareness of which processes, materials and production methods foster durability. In everything we do, it means balancing innovation and tradition.”
The brand has a unique three ‘P’ approach at its core: Product, Planet and People. “Firstly, artisan hands to make a product that never tires of walking with your feet and always feature a genuine flavour of nature.
“Secondly, determined to innovate to leave a single footprint on the planet: that of your steps drawn in the sand. Lastly, arms always open to work with and for people, because thanks to our customers we can focus on them.”
El Naturalista’s sustainable actions:
Recycled components: Outsoles made of materials recovered from previous production processes;
Outsoles made of recovered fishing nets; Wedges and insoles made of recycled cork; Recycled zippers; Recycled heel counters and toe caps.
90 per cent of all its leathers are produced in Spain by suppliers who are members of the Leather Working Group, which maintains
environmental protocols and carries out regular audits; GOTS-certified organic cotton; 100 per cent of manufacturing at its production centres in Quel (La Rioja, Spain) and Tangier (Morocco), thereby minimising its domestic suppliers’ transportations-related emissions in addition to its own; 100 per cent recycled eco-friendly packaging, extending to reuse of all cardboard and paper that winds up at its facilities; A top-quality vegan collection; Removable insoles that lengthen product lifespans and improve footwear comfort; Use of green renewable energy; Socially-minded projects: “We believe in people” in Spain, Japan, Ethiopia, Haiti, Peru, Tanzania; Collaboration with “Save the Med” to take care of the Mediterranean Sea.
14 • FOOTWEAR TODAY • AUGUST 2023
Mr Sota continues: “Research at El Naturalista continues every day so that we can meet the sustainability and environmental impact goals we have set for ourselves in line with our brand values.
“We prioritise eco-friendly, sustainable manufacturing and combine best artisan practices with the ideal technology to create high-quality, highly durable products. By 2025, we aim for at least 25 per cent of each of our products to be made of recyclable, organic or renewable materials and to communicate that fact as transparently as possible. “We are proud of our brand and happy to be working with you. Thank you for making El Naturalista part of your product assortment.”
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