COVID-19 has forced the fashion industry to reassess the way it operates. Many retailers are now striving to do better with regards to production methods, carbon offsets and sourcing environmentally friendly materials.
The latest brand to follow suit is Athens-based footwear company, Ancient Greek Sandals. Known for their classic styles based on Greek mythology, AGS uses natural tan leather and quirky gold wing buckles in their unique footwear. When launching the brand, the original styles paid homage to the Greek messenger Hermes who was gifted winged sandals that could fly.
In their efforts to reduce waste, AGS has created an upcycled collection of sandals which will become part of its permanent range. The six styles, which are based on current and past designs, will use surplus leather from the production of the main collection. Thanks to the upcycling process, the price point of these styles will be lower, making them more accessible to customers.
The new line will also benefit the Greek factory workers who are creating the product, as co-founder Christina Martini explains, “Because of the COVID-19 situation, the (factory) owner was worried that he would have to lay off employees due to a drop in production. We thought buyers would order larger quantities from an entry price line and that would give them more work.”
The colorful sandals will feature a wave motif, a symbol typically found on traditional Greek costumes. Whilst the new designs will be stripped back, i.e. they won’t feature any hardware or elaborate stitching, they will still be very much recognizable as part of the AGS family. The paring back of the designs will allow for speedier production and more competitive pricing.
The upcycled styles will include modified versions of the brand’s best-selling models; Eleftheria, Mirsini, Thalia and Skiriani and will use soft Napa leather and the brands comfortable EVA sole.
The collection will become available on Ancient Greek Sandals’ website in November 2020.
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