Joya da Terra is a new brand by Cynthia Tello, who is a Los Angeles designer working with Brazilian manufacturers to create a sustainable footwear collection using natural materials. Currently most shoes are made using petroleum-based products. Tello’s goal is to create an entire footwear collection using the waste of a coconuts.”The mainstream footwear industry predominantly uses petroleum-based products that are cheap to manufacture, but are often unsustainable,” said Tello. “By giving a new value to these so-called ‘waste’ materials, we are introducing a new business model that would create safe, toxic-free jobs and encourage local governments to promote recycling.” she explained. The company will create a coconut fiber insole, which has natural anti-bacterial agents. Textiles are made using recycled plastic and they use all water-based adhesives during the manufacturing process.
In an effort to launch the brand the company is using Kickstarter to raise captial for production of product. The goal is to raise $50,000 by July 20, 2014. For more details on the campaign click the link below.
Click HERE for Kickstarter Campaign
Correction: In the original posting of this piece, it was sited that Joya da Terra was the world’s first sustainable shoe company. However, there is a company from Ethiopia, Sole Rebels, which has been creating sustainable footwear since 2004.
lifewithivy.com 
OOuuupppss on “beautiful”
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I think Bethlehem Tilahun Alemu, a beutiful sista from Ethiopia has been cultivating the same idea with SoleRebel — the shoe company she founded. When you have a hot minute check her out.
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You are so correct Colin. While I was writing this post I actually was thinking I heard something about an African company but couldn’t remember. Thank you for pointing that out. I will make the adjustment accordingly in the article.
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