BALT

BALT is a French brand with strong commitments that has managed to create a vegan sneaker that ticks all the important boxes: stylish, super comfortable and eco-responsible ! We tell you everything about this ethical brand that we are proud to distribute on Zebra Vegan Shop.

A brief introduction to the founders of BALT:

Lara and Thomas co-founded BALT in September 2019 with the ambition of creating a meaningful project .
The development of a range of vegan sneakers then began with the aim of making things happen from the inside by favouring more responsible materials and production methods.

Lara, a former business lawyer and graduate of EM Lyon, left her dress to embark on an impactful entrepreneurial adventure.
Thomas, a graduate of HEC Paris and outdoor enthusiast, worked in a start-up accelerator in Australia before returning to France to join the BALT adventure.

Their crazy project: to invent the sneakers of the future

Lara and Thomas had A deep desire to revolutionize the sneaker market! More than 17 million pairs of sneakers are sold per day, each representing 15 kg of CO2.

They chose to invent sneakers with a carbon impact three times lower than the market average but without forgetting comfort, performance and style !
We can say that it is mission accomplished because the BALT sneakers are close to perfection!

Let's talk about style!

The first Knit Restart model has an urban design, both sporty and refined. A unisex sneaker with a timeless style that we will enjoy wearing everywhere and on any occasion: on the asphalt or in nature, in the office or in a restaurant...

The development of this vegan sneaker took about a year: between creating the design, choosing the materials, prototyping, testing...

The Knit Restart comes in 6 colours : heather grey, navy blue, cream, pomegranate , jungle or black. Elegant colours to highlight your style and for those who are tired of classic white sneakers.

C omfort and resistance at the rendezvous

Knit technology ( tricot for those looking for the translation) is a textile technology that consists of weaving a product directly from yarn.
It allows you to use the exact amount of thread needed to create the sneaker and to create a shape in one seamless piece.

The mesh is soft and supple and fits the foot perfectly ! The knit technology guarantees great flexibility and high resistance to deformation and tearing.

In addition, BALT has thought of adding a little padding at the ankle and tongue to guarantee maximum comfort .

Ah! We haven't talked about the sole: light, thick, flexible and bouncy with a very soft inner sole as a bonus! Basically, the Knit Restart sneakers from BALT are real slippers that you don't want to take off!

An eco-responsible sneaker

Balt set out to create a sneaker with the lowest possible carbon footprint , and it's safe to say it's succeeded because according to Carbonfact, the pair of Knit Restart emits approximately 5 kg of CO2.

How is this possible ?

First of all by choosing to use a maximum of recycled fibers . The Knit Restart upper is the first 100% recycled knit upper made in Europe . It is woven from an EcoLife® yarn made from recycled cotton (50%) and recycled polyester (50%), from pre-consumer materials (industrial fabric scraps) and post-consumer materials (used clothing).

BALT has chosen not to use any material of animal origin, so the Knit Restart sneakers are vegan .

The materials used come from Europe: Spain and Portugal.

BALT's suppliers are located less than 1000km from the assembly plant which is located in Portugal.

The impact of the transport of materials is therefore limited. This proximity also allows Thomas and Lara to build a real relationship with their suppliers , and to ensure good working conditions throughout the production chain.

For those who are curious, here is a behind-the-scenes look at the production:

Honesty

BALT 's message is intended to be 100% transparent and authentic, and that is a very important point for Zebra Vegan Shop, which hates greenwashing.

BALT does not seek to make people believe that its sneakers are the most eco-responsible in the world. The brand wants above all to do its best and give the maximum amount of information to customers. She even goes further by explaining what she could do better .
Each component of the sneakers has been selected above all for its technical performance and to guarantee maximum comfort and durability , however some components are not very ecological.

In the future BALT would like to:

• No longer use petroleum-derived materials , such as polyurethane, polyester and EVA in the soles, lining and rear triangle .

• Use natural pigments for dyeing yarns and fibers.

• Sew the rod directly to the first assembly, without using glue .

• Transporting goods with electric or hydrogen trucks , rather than traditional trucks.

• Measure more precisely the impact of sneaker manufacturing including electricity and fuel use by each building involved in manufacturing .

• Improve the traceability of raw materials.

• Measure the sustainability of their products.

BALT is a committed brand that has succeeded in its challenge of creating the sneaker of the future and which does not hesitate to question itself in order to constantly improve.

All you have to do now is discover the entire collection of Knit Restart vegan sneakers .