Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/1533756
www.isanextgenmaterials.com footwearinsight.com March/April 2025 ~ Footwear Insight • 13 from a throw-away mindset," comments Sean Naef, VP sales & marketing Industrial Business at Vibram. e company's repair services focus on three main fronts: sus- tain current cobblers, grow awareness to consumers, and bring in new talent. "ere is a lot of work to be done but also a lot of potential," Naef says. Vibram hosts cobbler clinics and workshops, has a mobile repair unit and offers virtual consultation services to its extensive network of shoe repair shops. Execs also see a shi occurring in how industry thinks about collaboration, under- standing that this is now almost required to overcome challenges facing brands' circular targets. Dave Kemp, director of corporate responsibility at Brooks, describes "going beyond working with dedicated sustainabil- ity team members to now pulling in teams from other divisions as well." It also extends to working with other brands, even direct competitors. Kemp gives as an example e Footwear Collective, an organization estab- lished in 2023 that is bringing like-minded companies together in a pre-competitive atmosphere to brainstorm development of industry wide solutions. Modern Makeover "Local shoe repair shops are increasingly rare, yet the demand for quality shoe repair continues. We see significant opportunities in consumer education—many people don't realize how much can be repaired or re- stored," states retailer Dillon Dardano, VP at Dardano's, a fourth-generation, family-owned footwear destination. Deeply rooted in shoe repair, Dardano's operates two retail stores in Colorado with a dedicated repair and distri- bution center, and three strong e-commerce platforms: EZShoeRepair.com, LiMyShoes. com, and Dardanos.com. e repair facility, custom-built 20 years ago, employs seven full-time cobblers. "Our team is a blend of experienced crasmen, some with 30+ years of expertise, and a new generation of skilled professionals keeping the tradition alive." Dardano has seen growing awareness of repair and renewal as part of a sustainable lifestyle. "Many customers appreciate the en- vironmental impact of reducing waste, while others value the crasmanship and tradition of maintaining quality footwear rather than replacing it." As footwear construction has evolved, so has Dardano's approach; services specialize in stretching, shining, sewing, and orthopedic modifications to extend the life of customers' shoes. NNormal's durability study aims to reduce footwear waste and consumption to foster a circular future. "Local shoe repair shops are increasingly rare, yet the demand for quality shoe repair continues." DILLON DARDANO, DARDANO'S SHOES