St Sana is the Australian footwear brand making heels out of recycled offcuts

The days of compromising style for sustainability are over.

It’s an ethical dilemma many of us who choose to shop sustainably face. You find the perfect pair of heels for an upcoming event, and they even fall within your budget. But you can’t see any evidence of sustainable processes from the brand, and you know in your heart they were probably produced in an unethical and unsustainable way – something you are against.  

So, do you buy the shoes – it’s just one pair after all, and they would really complement your outfit – or do you choose to satisfy your internal moral monologue and keep searching for a more responsible pair?

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Luckily, thanks to well-loved Aussie footwear label Sol Sana’s latest venture, you can throw this dilemma in the (recycling) bin.  

Eager to appease its customer’s desire for stylish and sustainable footwear, in February this year Sol Sana launched its eco-friendly sister brand, St Sana, which uses recycled offcuts to make a range of trend-conscious shoe designs. 

Releasing its full season of designs just last month, St Sana is redefining the shoewear landscape by bringing new, recycled life to the popular range of stylish sandals, mules, heels and boots created by its parent brand. 

“We understand the individual’s desire to make a conscious effort to be circular, who understands the importance of recyclability while encompassing expression and personality,” a spokesperson for St Sana told Inside Retail. 

Unlike its competitors, who have a history of using greenwashing as a marketing tool, St Sana formulates its designs around the pre-existing materials it has access to, in order to minimise excess material and wastage.

The label utilises recycled PU leathers and polyesters from offcuts and leftovers, and where full recyclability is not possible, it takes advantage of environmentally conscious PU leather. The brand also chooses to use organic cotton and ultra-resilient fibres like linen, which requires substantially less water when cultivating.  

“From the get-go we have been transparent about how and where we source our materials from in order to be responsible,” the spokesperson explained. 

And St Sana is proving a triple threat in the footwear landscape. Not only is the brand proving recycled practices have a strong place in the footwear scene, it does so while remaining both stylish and affordable. 

Where many sustainable brands retail at high price points as a result of time and labour-intensive processes, St Sana shoes retail between $75 to $170, meaning shoppers can feel good knowing they’re investing in an eco-conscious brand, without breaking the bank. 

And it seems customers are lapping up a sustainable take on affordable footwear. In its first quarter of operation, St Sana has secured 41 new independent retailers across New Zealand and is also available in retailers like Myer, Revolve, Surfstitch and The Iconic.  

“Sales are well above our projected expectations… we have surpassed our targets for St Sana” they disclosed to Inside Retail. 

But he says the brand doesn’t plan to stop at its current level of circularity. 

“We are working on a recycling program to launch in 2022 to adhere to our commitment to operate within a circular economy,” they revealed. 

St Sana is the sustainable success story that proves the importance of consumer demand. In an actively evolving landscape where, 10 years ago, terms like ‘circularity’ were rarely heard in a mainstream fashion context, St Sana is leading the way for responsible footwear brands, proving listening to consumer demand always pays off. 

To shop St Sana’s range of sustainable shoes, head here. Use the code FJ30 at the checkout to save 30 percent on full priced items. Offer ends 23rd September 2021.