AERA

AERA is leading the luxury footwear industry forward by placing equal value on product, people and the planet. With timeless designs that are ethically crafted from certified vegan materials, this brand strives to make sustainability the new normal. AERA's founders believe doing good is as important as looking good – and the industry agrees: the brand has been awarded twice at the Fashion Group International's Rising Star Awards, offered Positive Luxury's Blue Butterfly mark, and featured in publications like VOGUE, Page Six, Forbes, ELLE, and Oprah Winfrey's O Magazine. 

Founders
AERA's story began with three friends sharing a common passion: sustainable manufacturing and the well-being of people and our planet. Tina Bhojwani and Alvertos Revach met as students at Georgetown University in the 90s and remained in touch, meeting over the years in either Athens or New York City. Over dinner one night in 2017, Tina described how, after 20 years of working for large companies such as Donna Karan, Theory and Dolce & Gabbana, she was ready to do something different that contributed to the greater good. Alvertos had recently left his family business to set up Humble Holdings, an investment fund focused on sustainable businesses.

They discussed the urgent need for sustainable practices in the fashion industry and how they could work together in this pursuit. Shortly afterwards, Tina bumped into her former colleague, shoe designer Jean-Michel Cazabat. They started discussing the possibility of making vegan and sustainable shoes - Jean-Michel was up for the challenge and already had some ideas regarding materials along with relationships with factories in Italy’s Veneto region. Once the idea was solidified, they shared it with Alvertos, who was immediately intrigued – and so, AERA was born.

“We believe that luxury is not a new pair of shoes – it is clean water and fresh air. It’s not about how much you have, but how much you give back. It’s considering people and the planet when making product. It’s raising the bar, not just for yourself, but for others. It’s about honouring traditions while blazing new trails. It’s about looking forward, not back. It’s about making sure every step you take, has as small an environmental impact as possible. Because real luxury is leaving the world better than you found it."

Materials
AERA is constantly looking to improve their practices to minimise environmental impact – their supplier was the first company to develop 100% solvent-free materials, composed of water-based resins. They are also investing in new materials made from renewable, bio-based sources. The outers of AERA shoes are made from cotton, polyester, polyurethane, poly-viscose, polystyrene and nylon. Aware that synthetics come with environmental concerns of their own, the brand is working with SCS Services – a global leader in sustainability accreditation – to offset this impact by 110%.

The brand's signature sea glass-coloured lining contains elements derived from made from non-food grade field corn and polyurethane partly obtained from renewable sources. For their soles, AERA uses Thunit®, a unique material made in Italy from 50% synthetic rubber, 40% inorganic mineral composts such as silicones and mixed clay, and 10% additives (fastenings, pigments and plasticizers).

People
To ensure the highest level of quality and ethical working conditions, as well as minimise transport's impact on the planet, AERA works exclusively with Italian material suppliers. Small, family-owned businesses in Veneto make their shoes and the brand ensures that everyone in their supply chain earns a living wage and works in a safe, healthy environment.

The brand is working on creating an employee profit-sharing scheme, so that everyone on the team becomes a partner in the company and shares in its success. The aims is to build a company where where employees are valued and feel positive about the work they’re doing, guided by a sense of purpose and clear mission. 

Production
The brand aims to scientifically measure the impact of every pair of shoes that they make, with the goal of improving practices and offering solutions. They have teamed up with SCS to track the journey of production and guarantee transparency. Assessments by SCS include a “Cradle to Consumer” Life Cycle Assessment that quantifies the impact of the shoes on global warming potential, fresh water consumption, ozone depletion potential and other environmental factors.

Based on its results, the brand works to offset these impacts, alongside the effects of their plastic use. AERA has invested in the Green Trees Reforestation Project that reforests farmland in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley.

Other investments include a commitment to help restore water in critically dewatered rivers and streams around the US, and working with Plastic Bank, an organisation that empowers people in countries with significant plastic pollution issues.

Packaging
AERA shoe boxes are of equivalent quality to any luxury shoe box – with the difference that they are made of paper that contains 40% recycled post-consumer waste and 15% residues of organic waste. The rest is FSC-certified and GMO-free paper, produced with EKOenergy, resulting in a 20% reduction in carbon footprint. Inside the box, customers will find 100% post-consumer waste recycled tissue paper and the brand's 100% Global Organic Textile Standard certified cotton dust bag.