Founded by Julie Lewis in the early 1990s, Deja Shoe Co. is known for making footwear that turns discarded materials into something useful. Its original unisex flip-flop reflects that purpose, while planned Holy Cow sandals extend the company’s social mission to naturally deceased-cow leather and marginalized workers in India.
FlipSidezSince its invention in 2010, FlipSidez has built its identity around a distinctly personal idea: footwear that leaves a message behind in the sand. The Pottstown, Pennsylvania company handcrafts custom flip-flops in the USA, making single pairs as readily as large event orders for people who want their steps to say something.POTTSTOWN, PA
Thread InternationalThread International transforms trash from the developing world into dignified jobs and the most responsible fabric on the planet. They provide world-class fabrics that improve the social and environmental impact of products, and they are a Certified B Corporation.PITTSBURGH, PA
AGENCY Footwear LLCFounded in Brooklyn in 2023 by career footwear designer Mathew Drazic, AGENCY Footwear makes general-purpose sneakers for activists and others who want everyday comfort without the usual consumer-industry compromises. The small shop uses plant-based and recycled materials, and its partnership with The Gathering for Justice sends net proceeds from its sneaker collection toward equity and justice work. Drazic brings experience from New Balance, Diesel, Converse and Rykä to a brand built around peaceful action and sustainability.
Sustainable CompositesRooted in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Sustainable Composites upcycles discarded leather scrap into reusable material that can replace traditional leather in products such as luggage and furniture. Its founders—scientists, material engineers, and outdoor-industry executives—developed a process that keeps leather waste out of landfills while helping manufacturers build circularity into their supply chains. The company also processes customers’ cutting-room and post-consumer leather scrap into new material tailored to specified properties.LANCASTER, PA