Thousand Fell - A sneaker company committed to circularity

Thousand Fell is a New York based footwear brand that pays you to return your shoes to them so they can be recycled and kept out of landfill

As I wrote in my latest story on the Cyclon from Swedish running brand On, the footwear industry is looking for ways to go from a linear take-make-waste economy to a circular one. The goal of this model is to redefine growth and focus on society-wide benefits. We need to find ways to design waste out of the system and build a sustainable future without depleting resources. Thousand Fell is a new footwear brand, based in New York, that has taken it upon themselves to create casual sneakers that are made for a circular economy.

Thousand Fell

Thousand Fell was started in 2018 by a team of fashion industry professionals, at the time living in China, working close to factories, tanneries and dye houses. The brand was created over a mutual recognition of a broken fashion system. The founders were shocked by the overwhelming smell in leather tanneries and the amounts of plastics and adhesives that are traditionally used. They found that there were issues with material innovation in the footwear industry in particular, as well as an inventory issue caused by overordering seasonal products. In order to start solving these issues, they decided to develop their own sneakers with a supporting recycling system. 

Material Innovation

The name Thousand Fell describes the vision of creating new ‘fell’ or materials and, over time, a Thousand Fell library of sustainable textiles. The brand has created a shoe made with different bio-based and recyclable materials with a construction that allows them to easily take the shoe apart at end-of-use. The mesh sock liner is coated with Aloe Vera to create a soft touch feel and natural way to combat bacteria. Natural and recycled rubber contents are used in the mid- and insole to create a durable and comfortable ride. Castor bean oil was used to create a sustainable foam that is breathable and comfortable. Recycled plastic bottles were mainly used to create the leather like material that is used to create the upper for the sneakers. Even though the founders initially did not plan on using any fossil fuel based materials, they decided to use rPET for now, because of its durability, costs and because it is one of the fabrics that can already easily and profitably be recycled inside the United States. Coconut husk, sugar cane and palm leaf fibers are incorporated to replace many of the plastic components found in footwear nowadays. Finally, a quartz coating was used to create a water and stain resistant upper and to make their clean white shoes stay white for longer. 

Recycling

While Thousand Fell sneakers are designed to be durable and not go out of style, they are still a product that will eventually wear out. Their products are not collectibles, but rather your simple, clean go-to shoe for everyday wear. This means that they are less likely to be resold at end-of-use, so the first user is often the last one. Fortunately, the company has also figured out a way to keep your sneakers out of landfill after you are done with them. When you buy a pair of Thousand Fell sneakers, you make a $20 deposit which you will get back when you decide to return your sneakers to be recycled. The construction of the shoe allows the brand to take the entire shoe apart at their facilities and recycle or compost materials separately in-house and with recycling partners. Building a supportive system for end-of-use recycling is a key step in making footwear that is actually circular. If shoes are returned and they are still in good shape, they will instead be donated to Soles4Souls to give them a second life. 

When you are ready to try the circular sneakers from Thousand Fell out for yourself, you can head over to their website where they are currently selling two styles in a range of different colors.