Cork is a versatile natural material, with wide spectrum of utilization. In shoes, the material’s remarkable properties show themselves to the best advantage.
What makes cork so special?
It is:
shock absorbing and softens impact by walking at hard surfaces, dissipating energy
an naturally antibacterial product, which also prevents fungus to build up in your shoes
an excellent insulator, preventing from over-cooling or over-heating
a good humidity absorber, which will give your sweating feet longer time fresh sensation
relatively odor resistant by normal use (under one condition of regularly drying out for 16 hours)
naturally renewable (more Information in our other blog article – Is cork sustainable?) with very good ecological footprint
It is washable up to 40ºC
Why we decided to use cork in our insoles?
Due to its impact resisting properties cork stays also the material choice of most orthopedists. The material’s natural elasticity reduces the impact force and joint stress, which is transferred up into ankles, shins and knees. Medical use of cork in orthopedic insoles is also related to it’s ability to hold the foot in an orthopedically correct position.
Our removable insoles have ergonomic design and are available with different upper materials, depending from the shoe model. Some of the soles are covered by vegetable tanned leather (free from chrome and P.C.P.), some have a layer of 100% wool. All depends how you like it and the space you have in your shoes.
After some longer wearing time, subjected to the weight pressure and body heat, cork insoles start molding themselves to the foot shape, creating some custom fit and offering a high level of comfort. Despite this ability to mold to a certain degree, the material stays firm compared to rubber or artificial insoles, maintaining proper arch support and foot alignment.
Cork is harvested from cork oaks. The tree bark consist from two layers and the cork layer is positioned between the trunk and outer rough bark. Cork oaks are harvested for the 1st time after 25 years and than repeatedly in cycles of every 9 to 13 years thereafter. The material can only be stripped between May and August to prevent tree damaged.
Alentejo is the region in Portugal with the largest cork forest in the world.
Cork outsoles are normally bonded with resin for increased durability. We choose the company, which keeps the cork as natural as possible, agglomerating it with 1.1% of latex. The supply chain of this product is very short, since the harvesting of cork and production of soles are in the same country and at short distance.
So what exactly is felt? Felt is a non-woven textile made of a disordered, difficult to separate fiber material. Unfortunately the term “felt” ist not protected exclusively for its initial meaning and roots, so it is also used for synthetic fibers. When you hold both pieces – synthetical and wool felt in the hand, you …
What is the technology behind leather tanning? The leather making process is one of the oldest technologies and started to be developed with the meat consume. There are different methods of preparing animal hides and skins for future utilization as leather. Tanning is the process of treating animal skins to produce leather - a durable [...]
Each piece of vegetable tanned leather is unique. You cannot expect flawless homogeneous surface, even color distribution and same weather resistance you might know from products made from chrome tanned leather. The vegetable tanning process imparts typical natural characteristics, which makes each leather piece unique. There might be small marks from insect bites or scars [...]
Why cork insoles?
Cork is a versatile natural material, with wide spectrum of utilization. In shoes, the material’s remarkable properties show themselves to the best advantage.
What makes cork so special?
It is:
Why we decided to use cork in our insoles?
Due to its impact resisting properties cork stays also the material choice of most orthopedists. The material’s natural elasticity reduces the impact force and joint stress, which is transferred up into ankles, shins and knees. Medical use of cork in orthopedic insoles is also related to it’s ability to hold the foot in an orthopedically correct position.
Our removable insoles have ergonomic design and are available with different upper materials, depending from the shoe model. Some of the soles are covered by vegetable tanned leather (free from chrome and P.C.P.), some have a layer of 100% wool. All depends how you like it and the space you have in your shoes.
After some longer wearing time, subjected to the weight pressure and body heat, cork insoles start molding themselves to the foot shape, creating some custom fit and offering a high level of comfort. Despite this ability to mold to a certain degree, the material stays firm compared to rubber or artificial insoles, maintaining proper arch support and foot alignment.
Cork is harvested from cork oaks. The tree bark consist from two layers and the cork layer is positioned between the trunk and outer rough bark. Cork oaks are harvested for the 1st time after 25 years and than repeatedly in cycles of every 9 to 13 years thereafter. The material can only be stripped between May and August to prevent tree damaged.
Alentejo is the region in Portugal with the largest cork forest in the world.
Cork outsoles are normally bonded with resin for increased durability. We choose the company, which keeps the cork as natural as possible, agglomerating it with 1.1% of latex. The supply chain of this product is very short, since the harvesting of cork and production of soles are in the same country and at short distance.
Related Posts
What is felt and it’s origin?
So what exactly is felt? Felt is a non-woven textile made of a disordered, difficult to separate fiber material. Unfortunately the term “felt” ist not protected exclusively for its initial meaning and roots, so it is also used for synthetic fibers. When you hold both pieces – synthetical and wool felt in the hand, you …
Why Wool?
Why vegetable tanned leather?
What are specifics of vegetable tanned leather?