MADE IN EUROPE: OUR PRODUCTION
We work with skilled craftspeople who ensure high quality with care and precision. With modern materials and innovative production methods, we lead the way to a sustainable future. And produce ethically with small manufacturers in Europe.
VALUES
At SORBAS, we believe that the best shoes cannot be achieved without innovation and ethics. To create shoes of the highest quality, we opted for an independent manufacturing in Europe – away from the trenches of oversea mass production. Our production facilities are located in Portugal, Greece and Serbia.
SHOEMAKING
We integrate traditional shoemakers into modern supply chains, securing the future of family businesses and their staff. By choosing small and trustworthy shoemakers for our production, we support local communities and their development. Our partners are real shoemakers. Often having inherited their skills from their family, working together for decades.
INNOVATION
We believe that good shoes should be sustainable. That is why we go beyond tradition and invest into innovative materials and production methods. For our shoemakers this often involves new methods and innovates their business. Our approach is to spread innovation and sustainability and share our or knowledge.
To create the best shoes, we have chosen small but high-quality manufacturing in Europe – away from mass production. We integrate independent, traditional European businesses into modern value chains, securing the future for family farms and their employees. By selecting small and trustworthy shoemakers for production, we aim to support local communities and development.
Some of our shoes are made in beautiful Portugal. The region surrounding the country’s second largest city Porto is considered the center for European shoe production. Even though Asia is a huge competitor to the European production, Portugal still has a vibrant network of both shoemakers and suppliers. The focus has shifted towards a high-quality and modern production, with sustainability now being at the very core of portuguese shoemaking. This has secured an incredible amount of “shoe know-how” and an access to innovative materials.
The production site for our “Made in Portugal” shoes is lead by Paolo, who ensures a very clean and appropriate work environment. In Portugal, we mainly craft sustainable shoes and sneakers with natural cork from the portuguese cork oak, and recycled canvas from Spain. Our backpacks are also made in a small firm next to our portuguese shoe production. Here, a small team of around five sewers work with a high attention to detail to create our durable backpacks. The company is certified by PETA for only implementing vegan materials.
SORBAS has brought its contemporary design and ethical footwear approach to Serbia. There, we are working with a family who have been in the shoemaking business for three entire generations. This cooperation creates an opportunity for the shoemakers to access new markets outside of their home country, while securing the future of their business and staff. In return, we are blessed with access to incredible know-how in traditional shoemaking. Great!
Nowadays, most of our shoes are made in Serbia and the family company is our main supplier. Since the beginning our journey together in 2015, we have ensured significantly higher wages and improved working conditions for the shoemakers and sewers. We have also enabled the access of innovative materials and are proudly contributing to the long-term prosperity of the company.
From the very beginning, it was imperative for us that our products were made close to home. Shorter transport routes, better quality control and the ensuring of proper working standards are some of the main benefits. The shoe industry in Serbia has a long tradition in producing high-quality footwear for the regional market. However, with increasing imports from the Far East, the situation for Serbian shoe makers is becoming quite difficult. We strive to offer a bright future to the family business and their local community by establishing a production site for ethically made shoes
All of our sandals are crafted by the experienced sandal maker Stelios, who learned the art of sandal making from his father in law. We are proud to promote this traditional workmanship in order to keep the amazing craft alive. The attention to detail and quality allows for incredibly durable and beautiful sandals to be made. The leather used for the sandals by Stelios derives from Greece and is vegetable-tanned for increased comfort and longevity. They are the perfect companion for warm days under the Mediterranean sun.
Did you know, that transport to Germany from our European manufactures is about 15x shorter than it would be from China. In comparison that saves about 16350 kilometers per pair of shoes. Great! Especially since 9 out of 10 pairs of shoes sold in Europe are made in Asia.
