Solari Milano is a new vegan shoe brand that makes cruelty-free shoes and keeps up with sustainability trends without sacrificing comfort and elegance. The new men’s footwear brand claims to combine “being made in Italy with respect for the environment and styles that match the office or an elegant event”.
Solari Milano’s novel shoes are made using a corn fabric. This new fabric is breathable, durable, water-resistant, yet soft. With the production based in Tuscany, Solari Milano shoes are 100% Italian. The project started during the first months of 2021 and the product line currently consists of three models: oxfords, loafers and brogues. All the models are made with cruelty-free products, thus safeguarding the lives of animals while contributing to the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions and saving water.
Founded by former banker Niccolò Amati, the brand uses organic fabric laces, bamboo lining, and recycled rubber soles. Amati discovered and was shocked by the pollution resulting from the tanning processes involved in animal skins, and how many animals are slaughtered and involved in the footwear industry.
“During the first wave of the pandemic, I had a lot of time to think. I was at a crossing point in my life, and those days locked at home almost “forced” me to think about what I could do. I remember that, for example, in the office there was always particular attention to the dress code, especially shoes”, explains Amati. “I wondered: there are 300 people on my floor alone, in a nine-story building and almost everyone wears leather shoes. Is there an alternative?”