Keep it long, treasure it long.

Subtly glamorous silver logo

White sneakers are versatile and easy to pair with any outfit, but choosing which pair to buy can be tricky since white is an absolute staple color for any sneaker brand. While design is certainly a factor, why not also consider the brand's background as one of your options? VEJA is a French sneaker brand that asks, "What lies 'beyond' the shoe?" and aims to encourage people to look beyond the manufacturing process.

What Lies Behind These Sneakers

These sneakers are a little special. They aren't from a famous brand or the latest trend, but you can see where they're made and the thought behind them. Materials used include environmentally conscious options like organic cotton and fair trade sourced components. Many people are involved in the pair of sneakers right in front of you. That's the feeling you get with sneakers from the French brand VEJA.

The cowhide used for the uppers comes from farms in Uruguay, renowned for its livestock and leather quality. It's tanned without harmful chemicals and meets the strict standards of the Leather Working Group (LWG), an international organization promoting quality, safety, and environmental awareness in leather. This dedication to material selection embodies the essence of VEJA. The leather is moderately soft and lightweight, reducing strain on the feet.

ESPLAR features a clean silhouette, making it a versatile staple that complements any style. The name ESPLAR is inspired by a Brazilian NGO that provides technical support to organic cotton farmers. This naming reflects VEJA's commitment to meticulous material selection and respect for producers. The ESPLAR EXTRA-WHITE SILVER, with its white base and silver logo, offers a subtle yet undeniable presence to elevate your footwear style.

Commitment to Material Selection

VEJA, meaning "to see" in Portuguese. This French sneaker brand was born from the question, "What lies beyond the shoe?" hoping to encourage people to look beyond the manufacturing process. While shoes inevitably wear out, VEJA stands out for its commitment to quality materials, transparent production processes where the makers are visible, and the human connections and stories behind them.

Typically, rubber farmers sell raw rubber, a primary product with low added value. However, by refining and shipping the harvested rubber directly from the farm, VEJA ensures fair compensation through direct transactions without intermediaries. Furthermore, refining the rubber on the same day it's harvested results in high-quality rubber products. Natural rubber is mixed with coagulants within an hour of collection, filtered, and formed into sheets. This prevents oxidation, increases purity, and results in a supple, comfortable feel.

VEJA also has a future vision of eventually managing the entire production process in-house, including cattle breeding and processing. For the cotton used in insoles and parts, VEJA sources organic cotton grown in northern Brazil. Adhering to fair trade rules, the cotton is procured from producers in the state of Ceará, northern Brazil. Furthermore, for organic cotton materials, VEJA avoids excess inventory, manufacturing and supplying products within a sustainable annual production capacity of 15 tons.

Transparent Production Background

Founded in 2005, the shoe brand VEJA creates simple, clean sneakers with functional beauty through transparent manufacturing visible to both producers and consumers, earning it many fans worldwide. VEJA was born when founder Francois Ghislain Morillion and his team encountered a factory in Brazil that produced popular sports sneakers, such as volleyball shoes, and the shoes themselves. Production takes place at a factory specializing in sneakers, founded in 1970. It continues to produce basic shoes loved by young and old, men and women, children and adults alike in Brazil.

VEJA sneakers are assembled one by one by local Brazilian artisans using locally sourced materials obtained through clean methods. Thirty thousand pairs are distributed worldwide each year. Long-established French brands and select shops also appreciate VEJA's designs and commitment to craftsmanship, making it a trusted and sought-after brand.