Two years of a pandemic has caused many to stop and reevaluate their personal priorities, taking stock of the things that really matter to them, such as health and wellness, time with family, a comfortable home, social responsibility and a career providing flexibility. Also emerging among these shifts is a greater concentration on conscious consumption and sustainability. People are now shopping in a way that better reflects their personal values, “consciously consuming” with greater awareness as to how their purchases are affecting society at large. It’s now more important than ever for buyers to be able to feel good about their choices.
Enter AVRE shoes, a brand of sustainable sneakers first launched in 2019 by sisters Julie and Connie Kuo after years of careful thought and consideration. The pair were backed by their family’s 40-year history in footwear as daughters of Taiwanese immigrants who created the powerhouse shoe company East Lion Corporation.
“My parents came to the United States to live the American dream and build a better future for their children and their family,” says Julie Kuo, CEO of AVRE. After entering a number of different industries, the Kuo parents eventually landed on footwear, and in 1981 founded their own company. As a tiny two-person operation, Kuo’s father ran the sales, her mother did the design, and eventually their business would grow into a multi-million dollar company in the fast-fashion world.
Ditching Fast Fashion
As consumers become more aware of the impact of their purchases, however, fast fashion is on the decline. The environmental and human costs of the industry have become more recognized. Mass production of cheap and disposable garments has allowed us to pack our closets (we own five times more clothes than our grandparents, according to SustainYourStyle.org), but the result has been toxic wastewaters, overstuffed landfills and an industry known for its extremely poor working conditions.
This is something the sisters Kuo wanted to address with AVRE, an acronym standing for Authentic, Versatile, Responsible and Empowered. While climate change and global warming has become more and more of a prevalent topic, “We just felt compelled to do something to get involved, to make a positive and sustainable change for all,” Julie says, and it was the births of her two little girls that solidified the sisters’ mission. “As a parent, you want to do everything you can to provide the best future and the best world for your children. I wanted to ensure my daughters and future generations could enjoy the best planet they can.”
Sustainable Sneakers Are Made from Recycled Water Bottles
AVRE has developed an innovative manufacturing and design process to produce their sustainable sneakers from recycled materials. Connie is in charge of the production and design of AVRE shoes, which use REPREVE® fibers created from plastic bottles that typically would have ended up in oceans and landfills.
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“We chose recycled water bottles because they are commonly used and so are also very understandable for everyone to understand their impact. They are plastic waste that doesn’t disappear and are very damaging for the environment,” Julie says.
Each Pair of Sustainable Sneakers Keeps Plastic Bottles Out of Oceans
Water bottles are melted down, shaved into chips, and then spun into fibers, and every pair of sustainable sneakers keeps eight to 10 plastic bottles out of the ecosystem. The fibers can be dyed and spun into a type of fabric, which then forms the upper components of AVRE’s shoes. Their 3D Knit-To-Shape technology allows for the creation of precise sizes with little scrap waste, and the AVRE process saves about 70% more water, heat, and energy than using conventional polyester.
The Kuos also thought of other components of the sustainable sneakers and partnered with a company called Bloom, which takes harmful algae out of ecosystems, in turn putting back clean water. The algae is then turned into the “sock,” or the part of the shoe that is stepped on when walking. Every pair of shoes is guaranteed to last for 10 years.
“We wanted the women who wear AVRE to feel empowered, to feel strong, to feel beautiful,” Julie says. “A product of the whole pandemic is that comfort and casual wear has become acceptable, and you can look a certain way and still be smart and beautiful. That is what AVRE is about. We showcase that our shoes are supposed to be an extension of your everyday wear, and extension of yourself, and a way to express yourself.”
There is no limitation to how AVRE sustainable sneakers can be worn or used. “We just want women to see the beauty in the shoes and the beauty in themselves,” Julie says. And, of course, feel good about making a sustainable purchase.
Lead image credit: Sisters Julie and Connie Kuo are the founders of AVRE, a brand of sustainable sneakers made from plastic bottles. Each pair of shoes keeps 8-10 plastic bottles out of the oceans. Photo courtesy of AVRE.
