INTERVIEW #119 GOOD GUYS DON’T WEAR LEATHER
Based in: Los Angeles for 7 years but started in Paris in 2011
Founded in: 2011 in Paris
Founded by: Marion Hanania, French designer from Paris
Shop: Online at goodguysdontwearleather.com and at resellers
Price range: Shoes 150-260€ and socks 15€
Hi Marion, what is the story behind Good Guys Don't Wear Leather, why did you start it?
I was a freelance shoe designer for many brands in Paris, France, in 2009-10. Then I became a Vegetarian. I wanted to create a company that would reflect my beliefs and ethics, and that’s how I started Good Guys. It would include NO leather in any of the components of my shoes and be strictly Vegan and cruelty-free. I was also trying to be “clean” and carefully select the materials to work from.
Your brand is cruelty-free and vegan, what those that mean and why is that the case?
I don't want to wear animal skin nor participate in the mass killing of animals in any part of my life, including the creative aspect of it, which is "designing shoes." What I do for a living is a beautiful and fun thing to do. I don't want to inflict pain or enable it while doing it. I want to be part of the solution and hopefully inspire others to wear a more "conscious" product.
What is your take on the social, environmental and animal rights sustainability, can they go hand in hand when it comes to fashion or are there trade-offs?
They go hand-in-hand. Every day, a new option is offered to us, a better, cleaner solution and alternative to leather. We have Appleskin, cactus leather, pineapple leather, Mycelium leather, coffee rubber etc...…etc… The minor downside about these materials containing PU (Thermoplastic Polymer), which binds everything together to make the material more sturdy and durable, isn’t a very valid one, in my opinion.
If you take the damage and pollution done to our planet by the meat and leather industry and compare it to the effect of a small amount of PU (mostly recycled PU) you can find in vegan shoes, it is worth the trade.
What are the materials that you are using in your products and can you tell us more about what's happening on the vegan leather front?
I am using primarily Italian and Spanish microfibers. They are durable, high-quality, and beautiful to the touch. They mimic leather and suede perfectly. I started a few years back working with Appleskin; 50% of apple waste is used to create a beautiful material that can be used for shoes, accessories, car seats, anything!.
I use this Appleskin material for unique items like limited edition clogs, notebooks, and special editions of sneakers coming out soon..
Where do you produce your products and how are human rights throughout the supply chain guaranteed?
We work with suppliers we‘ve met over the years and that we consider the best artisans for our shoes. They are skilled workers from family-owned ateliers based in Spain, Portugal, and Italy. We visit them. They share the same enthusiasm and curiosity as us toward developing Vegan shoes and are willing to embrace our journey of vegan shoes.
Who are your customer and where are they based?
We have customers all over the world. Our customers are #1 in the USA, #2 in France, followed by the UK, Germany, Netherlands, etc. We are very proud to have customers in so many different places worldwide. Most of our Good Guys fans are between 30-45 years old.
What are the most rewarding parts of having your own brand?
The power to create exactly what I want to do is a nice feeling, but seeing my designs out in the world, knowing that someone is wearing my shoes every day or getting compliments, makes me the happiest. I enjoy working and collaborating with like-minded people like Asia, the co-owner of Besties Vegan Paradise, Linda Abud, and Zack Vouga, Founder of Plant Power Fast Food. This sense of worldwide community is amazing. Knowing it’s possible to inspire people to approach Fashion differently is a good feeling, too.
What is the feedback you get from your customers?
Usually, when my customers give us feedback, they are happy and want me to know it, and it feels great. I often receive feedback or compliments: “ I love your shoes; they are comfy, and I wear them all the time.” But any feedback is good. I also receive criticism, and that’s part of putting your work out there and knowing that not everybody will like what you do. My customers know what they want, and I like that about them because when they say they love a new pair of shoes that I am launching, I know it’s for real.
What's the news?
Thanks for asking. I am super excited about our new Running Shoes with Vibram soles !!! The BABER-GV (Go Vegan) perfectly represents my ideal running shoes, and I am so proud of them. I wear them non-stop. They are Vegan, of course, light, comfy, and beautiful. I am excited for the world (lol) to know about them.
I have a whole story behind the creation of the BABER-GV, how it all started with me being injured, unable to walk more than 15 minutes at a time for almost a year and a half, then recovering and needing new shoes. Unfortunately, my cowboy boots weren’t doing it for me during my recovery, so I started working on the BABER, and here we are! They were launched on Friday, September 29th 2023!
