THE DESIGNER

Kitty Cooper's mission is to provide a glamorous alternative to traditional 'eco-styled' footwear - she knows that ethical doesn't have to be ugly!

Kitty gained a first-class degree at Cordwainers' Institute, part of London College of Fashion, and worked for a time designing China-made shoes for a number of High Street retailers.

Like many other people, she was troubled by the widespread, unsustainable and unethical use of materials, labour and resources. It was this that inspired her to launch her own brand - no-one should have to change their life styles, just their choices!

Kitty's expertise in vintage fabrics comes from several years spent dealing vintage clothes and accessories on Portobello Road, and other London venues. Here she was constantly struck how, in the past, beautiful things were cared for and re-worked. Her designs are inspired by the shapes, styles and craftsmanship of past eras, as well as the vintage 'make-do-and-mend' sensibility which is the antithesis of modern throw-away fashion.

THE COMPANY

Our shoes are hand made by a family
business in East London, and where
possible all our components are sourced
from and made within the UK.

We love to support small local
industry, which cuts down air miles
and helps build and sustain thriving
communities.

All our fabrics, ribbons and trims are
vintage - from the 1920s to the 1970s.

It's glamorous recycling!

Leather is a natural by-product
of the food industry. Most leather is
tanned using Chromium - an ecologically
harmful toxic pollutant, which is
carcinogenic and can be absorbed
into the skin. But our shoes are made
from leathers tanned using organic
substances such as the seed pods
of the Tara tree, or the Valonea oak.

Our packaging is made from 100%
post-consumer recycled, non-bleached
paper, and our shoe bags are organic,
fairtrade, non-GM cotton. Bleaching
recycled paper uses harmful chlorine…
so when we need white paper (to
make our press packs, for example!) it's
greener to use paper from guaranteed
sustainable sources.

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