Camper and Ecoalf join forces for a sustainable footwear collaboration

By

Diana León Banda

Published
Jul 11, 2019

When two major players in Spanish fashion get together for a collaborative project which respects the environment and pushes the limits of innovation, it can only be good news. Camper Together and Ecoalf have teamed up to make a new version of the iconic Pelotas, according to a press release from the Mallorcan footwear company.

Pelotas have been reinvented with "100% recycled nylon insteps, laces and linings" for the Autumn/Winter 2019-20 collection released by Camper in partnership with the sustainable fashion brand. The unisex shoes have been available in three colourways (black, navy blue and off-white) in select Camper and Ecoalf stores since 9 July, and can also be found on the two brands' respective e-commerce websites. 

"The new collaboration with Ecoalf features innovative fabrics and threads made from reused plastic bottles, offcuts and post-industrial waste," explains the release. 

According to the footwear company founded in 1975, this model is "the most eco-friendly of the brand's shoes" to date. Camper has committed to donating 2 euros from each sale to the Ecoalf Foundation, which aims to clean the oceans of marine litter and give a new use to plastic waste through recycling and the circular economy, all of which is carried out in collaboration with fisherman in Spain and Thailand. 

For its part, Camper has also been working hard to reduce the environmental impact of its products. In 1975, the brand's first design was constructed with lorry tyres, freighting canvas and recycled leather offcuts, while its Wabi model, launched in 2000, only used three materials in order to simplify its manufacturing process and reduce waste. 

Currently, Camper is available in 400 stores spread over some 40 countries. According to the most recent data provided by the company, its revenues totalled 204.8 million euros in 2013. 

Founded in 2009 by Javier Goyeneche, Ecoalf uses plastic bottles, used tyres, fishing nets and coffee beans in its collections, as well as reclaimed cotton and wool. It currently operates four company-owned stores, in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga and Berlin. Since 2017, Luxembourgish investment fund the Manor Group has owned 65.9% of the company. According to information from Spain's Registro Mercantil, Ecoalf achieved 4.13 million euros in revenues this year, up 14.7% from the previous year.