Hasta La Ideas

Respoke makes footwear (and other products) from upcycled designer silk scarves (mostly Hermès, Gucci, Pucci, McQueen and Louis Vuitton). What started with espadrilles has expanded to include sneakers, wedges and mules. Because the source material is a scarf each shoe is unique, with some pairs offering nearly symmetrical designs and others a complimentary pairing of the source material’s pattern. The shoes are sustainably handmade in family-owned workshops in Spain using natural materials including jute and rubber; the silk is adhered with heat and stitching—no glue is needed. Left over material (along with recovered material from worn shoes) is then used by company co-founder Chris Bartick in his artworks ensuring that waste is kept to a minimum. Pricing starts at $295 and goes up to $745 based on shoe style and source material.