Stegmann, a European footwear brand known for manufacturing sustainable products since 1888, has added to the environmentally friendly profile of its EcoWool clogs.
Despite its experience producing responsible footwear for more than 130 years, the company calls the EcoWool line one of the most sustainable products in its history.
Each EcoWool clog features an upper made with heritage wool native to a specific region. When the line was first released in 2019, the company sourced wool from Stone Sheep in Austria’s Tyrol region and Shetland Sheep wool from Scotland.
With the 2020 update, EcoWool clogs will also include wool sourced from Peruvian Alpacas and Juraschaf Sheep native to Switzerland.
As part of its species preservation initiative, Stegmann works with small-time farmers to sustain rare breeds of sheep and alpaca. The sustainable wool is then paired with a footbed made from a combination of latex and Portugal-sourced cork footbed.
The materials are then sent to Stegmann’s carbon-neutral, chemical-free and zero-waste production line in Austria. Stegmann says any wool lost in cutting and knitting is recycled, while smart thermal management equipment recycles heat produced during manufacturing.
Stegmann is also currently undergoing a renewable energy transformation and is exploring the possibility of converting entirely to solar power.
Water used during production comes exclusively from fresh alpine sources, the company added, and is channeled back downstream after production, taking only wool fibers, dirt and lanolin (wool oil) with it. Stegmann said it consistently conducts both internal and external water inspections to ensure any pollution stays below critical thresholds.
Aside from sustainability, Stegmann touts the comfort and orthopedic quality of its footwear, including the EcoWool line. Its clogs are designed to have an anatomical shape with features like arch, toe, metatarsal bar and heel cup supports.
The newly updated EcoWool clogs launched in four different colors on Aug. 3 through Stegmann’s e-commerce channels. Stegmann footwear has been sold in the United States since the 1980s, and established a DTC channel over the past several years.