I’m sure you’ve heard the term of circular economy; a lot for some time now. Even if you don’t know what it means exactly, you must be clear that it is an economic model that our society has to address. This concept is part of the essential values that we at Marlon Sneakers want to transmit.
We easily find out why this economic change is taking place. But it should certainly be an economic change without any problem or cause to justify it. Unfortunately, in our times we are forced to seek solutions to the climate change we are experiencing and will experience in the coming decades. Now, it is in our hands to help slow down this serious global problem.
According to the World Bank, one of the solutions to this unprecedented scenario of our society and the limits imposed on us by Climate Change is the circular economy model. An economy that can recycle itself, that designs sustainable processes and products, extends their life, optimizes materials and water and energy consumption, reduces emissions, minimizes and reuses waste.
WHAT IS THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY?
If we stick to its official definition, the circular economy promotes the production of goods and services in a sustainable way, reducing consumption, time, energy sources and waste. A very ambitious model, no doubt.
The production of goods or services implies an environmental cost, both at the time of production and when they are no longer useful. To minimize this, the circular economy advocates the optimization of materials and waste, extending their life span. From a disposable model to an environmentally friendly model based on prevention, reuse, repair and recycling. The aim is to extend the life of the products and give them a second life.
Applying this economic model to the fashion sector in general and the footwear sector in particular, we need to define an environmentally responsible production model. A model that pollutes as little as possible and reduces CO2 emissions as much as posible. Without forgetting that in their production we have to respect people, animals and the environment. Avoiding production in countries too far away. In countries where environmental laws are too lax and, above all, in countries where human rights are not respected
SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY
If we analyse the footwear sector in one go, unfortunately there are millions of shoes, sneakers, boots. . . that come from countries that are too far away. Mostly from China, Taiwan or India. Interestingly, we also find that these countries have an environmental legislation that is too tolerant, where there is practically no respect for nature. We have a lot of contamination data that should keep us on our toes.
Furthermore, to this serious problem of legislation we must add the precariousness of employment. And more than job insecurity, exploitation. Above all, many cases of child exploitation. If we analyze the origin of our shoes we would get big surprises. We would find ourselves with manufacturing in countries where there are no human rights, let alone labour rights.
All this means that shoes can be sold at derisory prices despite the fact that they travel thousands and thousands of kilometres. The question is easy, is anything really worth it? Do we really care about paying less even knowing what’s behind this fabrication?
TOP-QUALITY RAW MATERIALS
Together with this responsibility to be taken on in the production processes, there is a need to use the highest quality raw materials in manufacturing. These materials must be perfectly certified as complying with the current regulations in terms of contamination and traceability at the origin of the materials.
In this effort, from Marlon Sneakers we can openly say that all the materials used meet the standards of quality and certification so that our products have the guarantee perfectly certified.
HANDMADE PRODUCTION
If there is one factor that contributes greatly to this model of a circular economy and sustainability, it is handmade and artisanal manufacturing. Here, Marlon Sneakers plays an important face in the industry. All the manufacture of our sneakers is carried out by hand. Besides, the sneakers are handmade, one by one.
With this we achieve two fundamental things: the reduction of CO2 emissions into the atmosphere since the production is handmade and, in addition, these emissions are reduced because the products are made in Spain, not in distant countries. Our products do not have to travel thousands of miles to reach our customers. This way, less contamination is caused.
PROXIMITY TO SUPPLIERS
Ideally, the production chain should be as short as possible. This means that the product travels as little as possible to reach the customer from the factory and, furthermore, that the materials used do not travel too many kilometres. With such a short production line we have direct control over manufacturing and ensuring that the right materials are used. In addition, we guarantee that production is being carried out in an appropriate manner on a social and environmental level, with a guarantee of labour rights, etc.
All our shoes are produced in carefully selected factories in the Alicante area, and the materials are almost always sourced from local representatives or distributors.
TRANSPARENCY IN PRODUCTION
If there is something that complicates fashion production (footwear in our case) it is knowing exactly the traceability of the final product. Where do the furs come from? Who is the manufacturer of the soles? how were the skins obtained? Which glues are used and if they comply with the environmental certificates? And a lot of questions. Nowadays, the production chains have become so long that it is very difficult to know who and what processes have been behind that product you will later have in your hands.
Betting on brands with short and local production chains is an interesting solution to ensure that we are really acquiring something that has been manufactured following social and environmental responsibility guidelines. As Almudena Navalón states, in the end it is a matter of achieving a very direct contact with whoever is manufacturing these products in order to achieve that desired transparency in the production process.
We work with factories that produce our collections but are independent companies, and we have to establish a very close relationship with them, one that you can trust completely.
MARLON SNEAKERS COMMITMENT
Wearing a Marlon, that’s wearing a quality sneaker. A socially and environmentally certified sneaker. A sneaker with a commitment to Spain. With the seal and guarantee of the Made In Spain and with an ambitious project aimed at a circular economy model. If there is one thing clear in the brand values it is sustainability. And in this search for sustainability we want it to be manufactured locally, handmade, and where CO2 emissions to the atmosphere are reduced as much as possible.
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