Minuit Sur Terre Is Revealing The Costs Behind Your Ethical Shoes

Minuit Sur Terre is a French, vegan, ethical and eco-friendly shoe brand, unveiling the costs behind the making of your ethical shoes.

There are two types of people in our world: the ones who are joyfully dancing their way out when the first rain comes, to enjoy its sweet, refreshing smell, and… well, the ones who are sadly saying goodbye to their beloved dresses and sandals, while listening to the world-famous song “rain rain go away”. If you are wondering what group I’m in- it is totally the first one, and in fact, that’s exactly what I was doing just a few days ago.

I’ve learned to appreciate the change of seasons throughout the years, and find joy in each of them. And apart from the breathtaking magic in nature’s shades of brown during this time of year, I find joy in my wardrobe. Since I live in a relatively hot county, my winter wardrobe smart and curated: I tend to stick with classic timeless pieces that will keep me warm, with a lot of neutrals and some good pops of color. The most recent addition to my wardrobe was this pair of beautiful vegan shoes by a brand called Minuit Sur Terre: it is a brand I’ve been eyeing for the longest and I’m glad to share a bit more about them with you.

About Minuit Sur Terre

Minuit Sur Terre is a French vegan brand creating eco-conscious shoes for men and women. Their name, which means “midnight on earth”, is a reference to Cinderella: “She is the proof that a pair of shoes can change a life” Says Mary, founder of Minuit Sur Terre, “and our objective is to save many“.

Mary founded her brand after going vegan, as she couldn’t find vegan shoes that aligned with her ethics and personal taste. Her lovely Bordeaux-based brand is focused on creating modern, durable shoes to fight the misconceptions on vegan, ethical fashion by not compromising quality: their line is suitable for the modern-day fashionista, incorporating the current colors and trendy touches while keeping the design truly timeless, assuring you will use it for years to come.

But one thing really caught my eye about the brand’s concept, and it is their transparency. But first…

What is Transparency, And Why Does It Matter?

Transparency, in simple words, is like a window. When brands share more information about where their clothes are made and who exactly made them, the window is being opened more and more, but unfortunately, in today’s fashion industry most of the largest fashion brands are leaving us behind barely opened or completely closed doors. But why should it even matter?

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The answer to this question is pretty simple: without transparency, we can’t know what is going on behind the closed doors of the factories. Without transparency, millions of people, who are left behind the scenes, are paying a big price. Without transparency, we cannot change anything. One example of that is the known Rana Plaza factory collapse, that left behind thousands of injuries and 1134 people who paid with their lives in the name of fast fashion. This disaster served as a deadly wake-up call, and it was clear for many that the fashion industry needs to change.

So many hands are sourcing, stitching and touching our clothes and the raw materials they are made out of before they hit the shelves of our local shops (or the online ones), and the sad reality is that in most cases, we have no idea who they are, and sadly, the brands themselves don’t know either. a significant part of the problem was exposed when many clothing brands sourcing from the factories inside Rana Plaza didn’t know their products were being made there. Supply chains of big brands are big and spread globally, and hard even for the brands, who are responsible for their supply chain, to keep up with.

So, why brands don’t just open the door, you’re asking? simply because what’s behind these doors is something people wouldn’t want to support. This is bad PR for them, and some of those brands care more about their “good name” and money than preventing the next Rana Plaza. Although transparency alone can’t and won’t solve the industry’s problems, it is still a crucial first step to begin with. In order to change, we need to first see the problems in their full light, and then start to change.

But don’t worry: there are some amazing brands out that are leading by example, one of them is Minuit Sur Terre.

5 Reasons Why I Love Minuit Sur Terre

1. They Are 100% Vegan and Cruelty-Free

The unconditional love for animals was the reason why this brand started: Marie, Founder of the brand, also has a dog named Cannelle that serves as the brand’s presenters, and this is one of the cutest things ever! 🙂

2. They Use Eco-Friendly, Ethically-Sourced Materials

Minuit Sur Terre‘s Shoes are made using fully-vegan, eco-friendly materials. all sourced in Italy from a supplier who has great respect for the environment and his workers. Their vegan PU leather and Faux suede are made of high quality and solvent-free PU and the lining and insole are made out of polymers from sustainable sources. You can see the full breakdown of the materials here.

3. Their Production is Ethical, Too.

Minuit Sur Terre cares about the people behind their shoes not less than they care about animals or the planet: that’s why their Production is made by hand in small factories in Porto, Portugal for optimal quality and great, truly safe working conditions.

4. They are Transparent

The brand isn’t only fully transparent about the materials and textiles used in their shoes but about their costs, too. And not just the costs of the materials, but the costs of everything it takes and involves creating your beautiful ethical pair of shoes, with the exact spent on each category. From the cost of materials and production, advertisements and taxes, logistics and VATs, to the moment your shoes arrive at your doorstep, and you can find this breakdown here.

5. They Are Circular

I am always celebrating brands who are taking steps towards circularity! The brand has a platform called l’Aurore, which is served as a second-hand shop for their used shoes: this way they are giving their pre-loved shoes the chance to find a new loving home, in a more affordable price.

I won’t blame you for falling in love with the brand after reading all this, but wait till you hear about my new pair of boots from the brand: this beauty is called “Sycomore Hazelnut” and it has the cutest bow detail in its back. Although they have a high heel, I find them very comfortable, which is key for me, especially when walking for a long time or attending fashion events 🙂 What do you think about them? let me know in the comments below!

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You can find Minuit Sur Terre on their website (where you can also shop their boots) and on their Instagram page (for some more inspo!)

VEGAN, ECO-SUSTAINABLE OUTFIT DETAILS

Boots: Minuit Sur Terre*

Skirt: JAN N JUNE*

Sweater: Rêve En Vert

Trench: Old, similar here. **

Merci for reading, and I will see you next time!

Noa

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Photography Credit: Liat Bracha

*This post is part of a collaboration with Minuit Sur Terre. Please note, items marked with (*) were kindly gifted to me. There are some affiliate links in this post marked as (**). All the opinions shared are mine. To read about my work ethics, visit my ethics page.