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Meet our artisans in Portugal: a deep dive into the manufacturing workshop of our ethical vegan sneakers
According to the World Footwear 2022 Yearbook, 88.2% of shoes are manufactured in Asia and only 2.8% in Europe. At Mood Walk, we chose to be part of that 3% by favoring a short supply chain for the design of our eco-responsible vegan sneakers. In this article, we will explain why we chose Portugal, how the workshop operates, and what techniques are used to produce each pair.
Why we chose to manufacture our eco-friendly sneakers in Portugal
We chose to manufacture our vegan sneakers in Portugal for three main reasons.
The first is expertise. Portugal is renowned for the quality of its footwear and components. Premium brands such as Isabel Marant, Repetto, Axel Arigato, Chloé, Kenzo, and Paul Smith have chosen Portugal for its quality finishes and mastery of multiple manufacturing techniques, notably the Strobel stitch, with soles sewn to the upper rather than merely glued, ensuring greater durability.
The second reason is social. As a member of the European Union, Portugal has rigorous social and environmental regulations. Labor law there is very strict. During our visits to the workshop, we observed that artisans work in good conditions and receive attractive wages.
The third reason is environmental. Its proximity to France allows us to transport our sneakers by truck, thus limiting our CO2 emissions compared to production in Asia.
A family-run workshop north of Porto, founded in 2005 and expert in ecological sneaker manufacturing
An artisan assembles the upper pieces with a sewing machine in Mood Walk's partner workshop.
Mood Walk's partner workshop is located north of Porto, near Felgueiras. Founded in 2005, this family-run workshop is managed by the father, a shoe enthusiast, alongside his children who share the same commitment to worker respect and the same obsession with customer satisfaction.
Combining tradition and modernity, this workshop is a leading player in ethical and vegan footwear, specializing in sneakers and boots for premium brands. It counts renowned brands among its loyal customers and adapts to the most audacious designs by finding appropriate technical solutions. It is regularly audited, certified, and workers are paid fairly according to their skills with regulated working hours.
We selected this workshop because it meets our expectations regarding working conditions, ethics, expertise in sneakers for premium brands, quality of finishes, and experience with vegan materials and innovative bio-materials, which require specific processes, particularly concerning assembly temperatures.
We regularly visit the site to monitor the development and production of our eco-responsible sneakers. We always return satisfied to see the good working conditions and the qualifications of the artisans.
Manufacturing techniques for our vegan sneakers
Cutting and assembling handmade sneaker parts
Embroidery of the Mood Walk logo on a white insert. Each piece is individually checked before assembly.
Based on predefined patterns, the cutter creates the various pieces that make up the sneaker's upper: the back, the top, the inserts. Cutting can be done using a laser machine or a die cutter. The cut pieces are then assembled, meaning sewn together, to form the shoe's upper. It is at this stage that the sneaker begins to take shape.
Lasting and sole assembly of vegan sneakers
Sneakers being lasted in the workshop. The upper is assembled; the outsole will be attached in the next step.
The assembled upper is then mounted on a last, a template that reproduces the foot's morphology, to give it its definitive structure. Machines are used to shape the entire shoe on this last, with artisans responsible for the correct positioning of the elements.
For the construction and assembly technique of the sole, we chose the Strobel stitch: the sole is glued then sewn to the upper, which guarantees superior robustness compared to simple gluing.
Finishing and quality control of ecological sneakers
Final quality control: cleaning sneakers and final touches before packaging.
Once the sneaker is assembled, it's time for finishing touches: cutting excess threads and fabrics, inserting recycled cotton laces, removing the last, cleaning the sneaker. Artisans check all the details at this stage. It is also during this phase that the final quality controls are carried out before the pair is packed in its recycled cardboard box and ready for shipment.
Last step: packaging the sneakers. Here, the Dream Big Blush
The eco-responsible materials of our vegan sneakers: a short supply chain in Italy, Spain, and Portugal
All the vegan materials for our eco-friendly sneakers are sourced from neighboring countries (Portugal, Spain, and Italy) to minimize transport and ensure they are produced under ethical conditions. Here is the detailed composition of our eco-responsible sneakers.
The outer upper of our vegan sneakers: corn-based bio-material (Italy)
For the exterior of our eco-responsible sneakers, we have replaced leather with a material made from non-food, pesticide-free corn. This innovative material is manufactured by our Italian partner Coronet. It consists of 78% organic matter, primarily corn.
The manufacturing process begins with the harvesting of corn from which bio-polyols are extracted, combined with polyurethane to provide the expected characteristics in terms of appearance and durability. The resulting bio-PU is coated onto cotton to create a resistant and homogeneous material that is flexible, aesthetic, and comfortable. This bio-material is certified by PETA and USDA, which establishes the percentage of organic matter in the product.
The lining and insole of the Wild Walker and Master Mind ecological sneakers: corn bio-PU (Spain)
The lining of the Wild Walker and Master Mind eco-responsible sneakers is made from a material similar to that used for the exterior: particularly absorbent and very resistant. It also contains corn with 60% bio-PU made from cereals. It is sourced in Spain and OEKO-TEX certified, which is important because it is the part in direct contact with the skin.
The removable insole is also made from recycled foam covered with our corn-based bio-material, sourced in Spain.
The Dream Big and French Touch collections have a particularly soft, absorbent, and comfortable recycled mesh lining.
The outsole, laces, and packaging of our eco-responsible sneakers (Portugal)
The outsole of our vegan sneakers is manufactured by Combocal, a supplier located in Portugal near our workshop. It is made of 20% recycled rubber. The laces are made of recycled cotton. The packaging (box and envelope) is made of recycled cardboard, also produced in Portugal.
Transparent manufacturing, from start to finish
Choosing Mood Walk vegan sneakers means choosing a product where every step of manufacturing is documented and verifiable. Materials are sourced in Europe (Italy, Spain, Portugal) from identified partners: Coronet for the corn-based bio-material, Combocal for the recycled rubber sole. The partner workshop north of Porto is certified, regularly audited, and we visit in person to monitor production.
This transparency is not a marketing argument: it is a condition we imposed on ourselves from the start. In an industry where 88.2% of shoes are manufactured in Asia, being part of the 3% produced in Europe represents a more economically demanding choice. It is the price of an ethical sneaker manufactured under conditions we can stand by and explain.
