FAQs
- Good Earth Sandals are individually handmade by artisans at our workshop in Haiku, Hawaii. Each sandal is crafted from all-American materials, sourced from the oldest tannery located in the United States. Our leather is vegetable tanned, drum dyed, and most importantly, chemical-free.
How do we source our leather?
- Our leather comes from pasture raised, North American steers, 25+ years or older. Our leather tannery adheres to guidelines that allow for humane treatment of animals.
- Have you noticed that your feet tire when wearing contemporary sandals, flip-flops, and slippers? There’s a good reason. With each step, your toes are forced to squeeze together to retain a measure of support. No wonder your feet hurt!
- In contrast, Good Earth Sandals provide the right amount of support, and in the right places, which includes a lightweight lacing around the ankle, and between your toes. You will have the sensation of being grounded, barely noticing the lace between your toes, and your feet will feel stable, secure, and unrestricted.
- The more you wear your sandals, the more comfortable they become. You’ll enjoy the experience of walking barefoot, while protecting your feet from the elements.
- Then you really should be wearing Good Earth Sandals! Our feet were not designed to wear modern shoes, and especially the ones that provide too much cushioning. Without the right support for our feet, over time, our muscles weaken, which causes back pain and discomfort. The wrong pair of shoes push your weight forward and creates an unhealthy imbalance.
- As with much in this modern world, we are learning that less is more. The minimalist design of Good Earth Sandals will help your arches re-strengthen, and return your feet to their natural state.
- When you first put on a new pair of sandals, your feet will feel free and comfortable. Within a few hours, however, the leather softens, forming a well that supports the unique pattern of your footprint. The chestnut sandals will naturally darken and turn a rich cognac color. All of our sandal colors will turn a rich color and feel velvety soft to the feet.
- Like all leather products, your sandals will soften as they are worn. To speed up the process, rub the tops of your sandals lightly with coconut oil or our handmade in Hawaii Kukui Nut Oil, and this will also soften and slightly darken the leather.
- If worn daily, your sandals will last two to three years, and possibly longer. The first pair of Good Earth Sandals, handmade by Kevin, lasted over two years. He wore them daily while exploring Hawaii, and they are still in wearable condition today.
- If you only wear your sandals occasionally, let’s say, just once or twice per week, your sandals will last a lifetime. Take good care of the leather, keep your sandals dry, and you will increase their longevity.
- On the daily, you will pull your sandals off and on. At first, you may want to re-lace your sandals once or twice per week to keep them tight, as the laces will stretch. Over time, however, the laces will stop stretching, and you will not need to lace as often (start at step 9 on lacing diagram or view our lacing video).
- In most cases, you can re-tie the knot on the bottom of your sandal using the same lace (see step 1 on lacing diagram). You should be able to keep re-tying the bottom knots as the laces stretch, and at some point, you may want to replace the laces (complete steps 1-12 on lacing diagram).
- The knot will flatten within a few hours of wear, and will not be noticeable.
- Un-lace your sandals and re-tie a new figure-8 knot (see step 1 on lacing diagram).
- Water will not damage your sandals or laces. However, continuous exposure to water over time will wear your sandals out much faster and might cause them to stretch. If it is pouring rain, it may be best to wear different shoes. However, it will not damage the integrity of your sandals so long as it is occasional and they are allowed to dry properly.
- Un-tie the laces and lay your sandals flat to air dry. You can also make use of the sun, as direct sun will not damage the sandals, and in some cases, this is the best method to dry out a waterlogged sandal.
- Vegetable-tanned leather is mold-resistant. In Hawaii, for example, mold is a part of life. If you live in a humid climate, you can prevent mold by occasionally rubbing the soles with coconut oil. Daily wear will also eliminate the risk of mold. Also, most importantly, don’t store your sandals in a damp or dark place. If mold occurs, take a cloth and rub with antibacterial spray or coconut oil and allow the sandals to air dry or leave them in the sun.
- Our sandals are designed for every day walking on sidewalks, beach, forest, grass, and anywhere you want to feel the earth.