Named after the Brazilian NGO, Escritório de Planejamento e Assessoria Rural (The Rural Planning and Development Association), which offers technical support to organic cotton farmers, Veja Esplar sneakers are rooted in ethical manufacturing standards. The brand has worked with the NGO since 2004 and sources the rubber found on Esplar soles from the Amazonian forest. By choosing this rubber, Veja has helped preserve over a hundred thousand hectares of the Amazon forest, whilst also providing an extremely comfortable fit for anyone that wears the style. What’s more, Veja Esplar sneakers also utilise organic cotton, which is purchased directly from Brazilian and Peruvian suppliers that respect fair trade principles.

This premium brand goes beyond slogans and style to bring a truly fresh take on the trainer market. While the Esplar may have been around since 2011, it’s contemporary style still has us reaching for them time again today, with rigorous standards in place to ensure they withstand some serious wear. But it’s not just their versatility and durability we love; it’s that so much work goes into sourcing their materials. From organic cotton to wild rubber, fair trade principles to their transparent code of ethics; there’s more to a pair of Veja Esplar trainers than first meets the eye.