There’s always a story behind a product in Miss Meaningful’s world. And here’s one that amazes me.
A couple called Matt and Naomi started a NFP called The Street University – a retreat for marginalised kids in Western Sydney. They needed a way to sustain the business so Matt’s brother Rupert came on board with the idea of creating a shoe company.
They looked into manufacturing overseas but realised after visiting many locations that the conditions were not acceptable – supporting sweat-shops was unforgivable. So they focused back on producing their shoes under ethical, safe and monitored conditions in Australia. Australian made and owned.
Gideon Shoes was born and they decided to use 100% Australian materials and resources. These include cane toad hide and kangaroo leather. Yes that’s correct – some of Australia’s biggest pests. The roo skin is culled for the meat so it is not wasted. Now I’m an animal lover (Matt and Naomi are vegetarians so you could imagine the discussions around their table when deciding what materials to use) so I understand that this may be difficult to digest (pardon the pun). The reality is using these resources means they are used for good rather than just thrown away.
And for those who aren’t interested in these materials you will be pleased to know that they also make an organic, biodegradable shoe, which is vegan and made from fair trade organic cotton and natural rubber.
Innovative and creative. Meaningful and thoughtful. Gideon Shoes.
Find out more through the TEDxCanberra presentation by Matt Noffs.