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Back · Materials

What goes into every pair

Every material earns its place.

If it doesn’t wear in better than it wears out, we don’t use it. We look for honest texture, daily resilience, and comfort you notice less with every mile.

The material library

Close-up of warm taupe waxed suede grain

Waxed Suede

01

Soft enough to move from the first wear, finished with a light wax that turns scuffs into patina. The surface deepens rather than looking tired.

Used on Drift, Court, and seasonal Lifestyle uppers.

Close-up of a soft gray wool-blend knit and charcoal seam

Wool-Blend Lining

02

A breathable knit that takes the edge off cold mornings without trapping heat by lunch. Dense fibers keep the heel feeling soft, even sockless.

Used at the heel and collar of cool-season pairs.

Natural gum rubber outsole with geometric tread

Gum Rubber Outsoles

03

Naturally grippy and flexible, with enough density for wet pavement and daily abrasion. The tread is tuned for traction without a heavy trail-shoe feel.

Used across Skate and select Lifestyle silhouettes.

Coiled bone and sage recycled cotton sneaker laces

Recycled Cotton Laces

04

Spun from recovered cutting-room cotton, then woven tight so the knot holds. A small material choice that gets handled every day deserves the same attention.

Used across the core Solehaven collection.

A sculpted natural cork sneaker footbed

Cork Footbeds

05

Cork compresses where your foot asks it to and stays supportive everywhere else. Over time, the footbed becomes a subtle record of the way you move.

Used in Lifestyle, Training, and premium Court pairs.

Water droplets beading on tightly woven bone canvas

Water-Resistant Canvas

06

A tightly woven cotton canvas with a fluorocarbon-free water-resistant finish. It handles a passing shower while keeping the familiar feel of a canvas shoe.

Used on Boardwalk and fair-weather seasonal editions.

A lighter footprint, honestly

Progress, not a perfect green story.

Sneakers use energy, water, and materials. We won’t pretend otherwise. Our job is to make each choice more considered: recycled fibers where they perform, small production runs, durable constructions, and fewer unnecessary finishes.

Since 2025, we have measured the emissions from every outbound parcel and funded verified carbon-reduction projects to match them. Offsetting is not the finish line; it is one accountable step while we keep reducing packaging weight and transport distance.

From material to shoe

Nothing goes straight from sample book to shelf.

  1. 01

    Sourced

    Chosen from suppliers who can tell us where it came from and how it was made.

  2. 02

    Tested

    Flexed, soaked, abraded, and worn until weak points stop being a surprise.

  3. 03

    Cut & assembled

    Pattern pieces are nested to reduce waste, then built in deliberately small runs.

  4. 04

    Worn in Portland

    Final samples meet rain, hills, pavement, and a full day on foot before release.

Feel the difference

Materials chosen for the miles you actually walk.

Explore the full Solehaven collection, from waxed suede everyday pairs to weather-ready canvas.

Shop the collection