Entrepreneur Plus - Short White
For Subscribers

Why the Founders of This French Sneaker Brand Spent Two Years Researching Faux Leather Veja's founders have always been proud of their sustainable footwear -- except their use of leather. Here's how they found a solution.

By Maggie Wiley

This story appears in the April 2019 issue of Entrepreneur. Subscribe »

Courtesy of Veja

The French brand Veja's kicks look good -- like elevated Stan Smiths -- but their appeal goes beyond style. Sustainability has always been a major part of the company's mission (and its sales pitch), and its rubber and cotton can be traced back to ethical farmers in Brazil. But the company's use of leather left the founders feeling unsettled.

"It's really the only product we're not very proud of in terms of sustainability," says François Ghislain Morillion, who cofounded Veja with Sébastien Kopp. They had long searched for an alternative but came up short. The so-called "vegan leather" often used for shoes and apparel is just virgin plastic, and suede-like microfibers have a petroleum base -- hardly eco-friendly.

This is a subscriber-only article. Join Entrepreneur+ today for access

Editor's Pick

Related Topics

Business News

Taylor Swift Reportedly Pays All Restaurant-Goers' Checks to Clear Out Restaurant For Her and NFL Star Travis Kelce

The star was spotted at Arrowhead Stadium for the Kansas City Chiefs game Sunday night alongside Kelce's mother.

Business Plans

10 Simple Tips to Write a Successful Business Plan

In the new book "Write Your Own Business Plan," business expert Eric Butow takes the anxiety and confusion out of planning and offers an easy-to-follow roadmap to success.

Social Media

We Are Disillusioned and in an Influencer Overdrive — Here's How to Find Authentic Guidance via Social Media Influencers

Instagram, Twitter and Facebook seem more unrealistic than ever. Remember when it was fun!? In the age of authenticity, we're not buying the dupliciousity of influencers.

Franchise

Is Franchising a Fit for You? Crucial Questions to Ask Before You Buy

Before taking the leap make sure you've thoroughly researched every nuance of this business model.

Starting a Business

Ask Co-Founder of Netflix Marc Randolph Anything: How to Watch

How to watch the new live streaming episode of 'Ask Marc.'