Terra Plana
• Men’s & women’s footwear
• Uses a variety of eco-friendly & recycled materials including an eco revolutionary leather by-product, called E-Leather
• Terra Plana's range of men's and women's shoes encompasses four brands: Terra Plana, Worn Again, VivoBarefoot & Dopie
• Based in London, with an office in China & stores in London, Vienna & New York
• Terra Plana are winners of The Observer Ethical Fashion product of the Year 2007
The business
In 2003 Galahad Clark took over Terra Plana (meaning Flat land) and set about transforming the brand, producing innovative, sustainable and of course fashionable shoes. As a seventh generation Clark, shoemaking is undeniably in Galahad’s blood; Galahad learned the family trade as a young man, spending summer holidays on various production lines in Northampton and Italy.
Over the past four years Terra Plana has grown from a small UK based business to an international footwear brand, with wholesale and distribution all over the world from Europe and the USA to Australia.
Sourcing/manufacture
Leather: All the leather used by Terra Plana is purchased from reputable sources across Europe & China.
Fabric: Terra Plana uses a range of different fabrics in the production of their footwear; their signature being recycled quilts sourced from India, Bangladesh & Pakistan. The Worn Again range is almost entirely produced from recycled materials, including old denim jeans, t-shirts, fireman’s trousers, coffee bags, ex-military jackets and parachutes. Terra Plana have also introduced a range of bags into the Worn Again collection made from seat belts and recycled materials.
Other: Terra Plana are the first footwear company to have used E-Leather in their footwear. E-Leather is a mixture of leather off cuts and textiles, re-woven together to form an ultra strong, smooth piece of material perfect for making footwear! New for Spring/Summer 08, Terra Plana is introducing a new lightweight durable sole, made from recycled rice husks and EVA rubber, with an internal layer of cork. Worn Again have introduced a range of footwear made from recycled bicycle tires and E-Leather.
Manufacture: Terra Plana produce the majority of their products in China, only using factories that work to a European standard of production and ethics. This is regulated by external NGO’s and adheres to strict ethical & ecological codes of conduct.
Terra Plana have a design studio and apartments (where a number of the designers live) in Guangzhou within the Contemporary Arts Centre of Modern China. They also have an office there for sourcing materials and logistics. The infrastructure and modern technology in China is perfect for shoe making and is the best in the World. Terra Plana aims to make shoes at great value with the latest technology and sustainable principles.
Product/market
The core Terra Plana brand combines an understanding of classic shoemaking with a passion for modern techniques and materials. Worn Again spearheads innovation in using recycled materials. VivoBarefoot & Dopie are based on barefoot concepts and emulate the foot as closely as possible, working on the proven principle that barefoot is best for our bodies. As well as footwear Terra Plana also produces wallets and belts.
Terra Plana has an extremely broad target market as each range caters to different audiences. From teenage skaters and students right through to politicians and fashionistas, Terra Plana aims to cater for every taste.
Terra Plana have several own brand stores in London, New York and Vienna. Shoes are also sold through various retail outlets across the UK, including Topshop, and online. With prices ranging from £30 to £200, Terra Plana competes with higher end high street shoe ranges. You can find out more about pricing at Terra Plana’s online store.
Sustainability
Every product was designed with a sustainable concept in mind and eco friendly materials were actively sourced from all corners of the globe. Sustainable design, according to Galahad, is just ‘good design’; products that are efficient, durable, light, enjoyed by users and don’t cause any unnecessary harm.
Terra Plana is inspired by ecological survival. Reparability, lightness, anatomic design, and durability are all staples of sustainable shoemaking. Terra Plana regularly re-evaluate their production to minimize waste and toxin use and maximize product use.
Terra Plana uses a variety of eco-friendly materials including: Chrome free leathers, vegetable tanned leathers, recycled materials, pure latex soling materials, recycled rubber soles and recycled foam foot beds. Terra Plana also introduced E-leather, a revolutionary eco leather by-product. E-leather is a unique blend of leather and textile fibres re-woven and finished so it is practically indistinguishable from good quality leather. E-Leather is produced with closed loop water usage and best practice pollution prevention methods.
Terra Plana does not have an official code of conduct for our overseas production. As a small company, they find it more effective to work directly (no agents are involved) and very closely with every factory that produces their products. They have their own team that seek out high quality factories that already work with major brands and have professional codes of conduct conforming to EU standards for workers' rights.
Terra Plana use recycled cardboard for all shoeboxes and supply each shoe in a reusable bag.
What next?
• Children’s footwear
• Worn Again recycled ladies heeled shoe
• Glueless construction
• Efficient construction & production
For more information visit the Terra Plana website.
Check out Terra Plana in our gallery.
