BRAVE SOLES PAVING A SUSTAINABLE PATHWAY - ONE ETHICAL FOOTPRINT AT A TIME

By: Janice Ronan

In a world dominated by mass-produced footwear, Brave Soles emerges as a revolutionary brand that combines both fashion and purpose. Brave Soles was founded in 2017 by Christal Earle, a professional speaker, author, coach, social entrepreneur, and mom, who has called both Canada and the Dominican Republic home for over ten years.

Life in The Dominican Republic was beautiful, for the exception that landfills were overflowing with an excess of tires, and there was a shortage of employment in the community. As the co-founder of Live Different, an international youth humanitarian charity, she was introduced to landfill workers in vulnerable pockets of the world, and as a long-time traveler, Earle has always been inspired by the craftsmanship and creativity of global, local artisans.

Christal understood that finding beautiful fashion that is both kind to people and the planet can be difficult and expensive. She saw an opportunity to combine the talents of the locals with her passion for sustainability, creating a business that really makes a difference. Brave Soles is quickly redefining the shoe industry with a global, environmental, and societal impact, helping to build a better future – at a fair price that is accessible to all.

With a deep understanding of sustainable practices and social responsibility, the brand strives to minimize its environmental footprint, opting to use only eco-friendly materials and manufacturing techniques. Each shoe is hand-cut and crafted using upcycled materials, think discarded tires, and ethically sourced leather from local tanneries. The leather is vegetable-tanned which means it is treated with natural materials rather than harsh chemicals, making it safer for the environment and the workers. Employees are provided with fair, liveable wages and safe working conditions. Some of their team is directly employed, but most are contracted suppliers who have built a solid relationship on truth and trust. They can set their own prices, hours, and location of work. Together, they consult and create throughout the entire production process.

Brave Soles also offers a range of accessories including small leather goods and even offers an AIRCRAFT collection, made of upcycled plane seat leather. Collections are produced in small batches and continuously restocked. Style and quality are never compromised. With an excellent attention to detail and design, the team takes pride in their unique creations, reflecting the spirit of the brand. Each piece is carefully made to ensure comfort, durability, and versatility and are available in a vast assortment of colors and styles. A pair of Brave Soles is like a trusted best friend: they always know how to make you feel comfortable being who you are.

Committed to transparency and honesty, Brave Soles offers detailed information about the materials they use and the artisans they work with on their site, equipped with a Total Impact report, customers can follow along with their sustainable progress. Clientele is also encouraged to ask questions and share their feedback about their products. To date, over 3,520 tires have been upcycled, 439 cars are off the road and 579,450 hours, and counting of bulb energy has been saved. It is their intent to create a circular economy by offering a recycling program, where customers can send in their old shoes to be repurposed or recycled. Thus, reducing waste and minimizing the environmental impact of their products. The company also supports various social and environmental initiatives, such as beach clean-ups and reforestation projects.

"We believe in a world where our choices matter."

~ Christal Earle

Brave Soles represents a paradigm shift in the fashion industry. By marrying style with purpose, the brand helps to set a new standard for sustainability, social responsibility, and empowerment. Customers and fans love the backstory and can confidently take a step forward feeling good about their purchase knowing that they are supporting a company that is creating a better future for all.