The Story Behind the Handep Weave Collection

The Story Behind the Handep Weave Collection

Indosole represents a lifestyle of resourceful creation. Our footwear is thoughtfully crafted in Indonesia using recycled tires and natural materials.  All of our products and materials are 100% sourced and made in Indonesia.  We are always looking out for new materials to get creative with, new communities to get involved with, and ways to collaborate with creatives. We believe that being environmentally responsible, should be as chill and accessible as the way you wander the world. Indosole is proud to be partnering with Handep for our Limited Edition Weave Collection.   What is Handep? Handep is a social enterprise in Central Kalimantan that works to empower women and small-scale farmers through eco-fashion products. The rapid expansion of oil palm plantations, mining, and logging has caused a rampant rate of deforestation and the degradation of indigenous and traditional values, practices and land grabbing in Central Kalimantan. Handep emerged in response to this alarming condition.It aims to create a more locally-sensitive and sustainable economic development for rural communities in Indonesia, particularly Kalimantan, by providing more locally appropriate and sustainable livelihoods for rural communities through added value creation of local forest and agricultural products. In other words, economic development does not only focus on profit generation but factors in local wisdom, cultures and traditions, potentials of local natural and human resources, and ecological aspects.  How Handep Operates? Partnering with around 100 women weavers and smallholder farmers in Central Kalimantan, Handep presents weaving products integrating fashion and tradition in haute couture ways. We initially facilitated the establishment of weaving groups in several villages in Central Kalimantan, then established long-term partnership with these groups.  These woven goods are then designed to be functional, and meet modern lifestyle to make them marketable at local and international market. At the heart of our business, we do fair trade with our partner weavers and farmers by giving fair prices for their rattan wicker crafts which are generally undervalued by middlemen. We also share 20% of our net profit to the partner weavers and farmers in the forms of cash, training programs and village infrastructure development.  Who Handep Impacts/Supports? We started with 20 weavers (1 weaving group) in late 2018 and have now partnered with around 100 weavers and farmers in 4 villages. Where In Indonesia? Kalimantan is the Indonesian portion of the island of Borneo. It comprises 73% of the island's area. The non-Indonesian parts of Borneo are Brunei and East Malaysia. In Indonesia, "Kalimantan" refers to the whole island of Borneo. In 2019, the Indonesian President Joko Widodo proposed that Indonesia's capital be moved to Kalimantan. Indosole x Handep Collaboration at Indosole's HQ in Canggu Bali   Kai Paul, Kyle Parsons, and Founders of Handep                                   September 2022 Learn more about Handep here!   Please contact us for collaboration opportunities!  indo@indosole.com    With Love, Your Indosole Team!
Get creative with Ijal!

Get creative with Ijal!

Say hi to Ijal! Indosole is lucky to have Ijal be part of our family and team! Ijal has been working with us for a while and is a man of many talents, a great graphic designer, a dedicated father, an inspiring artist and above all a good human! After working together for so long we finally had the opportunity to ask him some more in depth questions about his art and himself. His answers are so interesting and really inspired us, so definitely read till the end! What does “art” mean to you? Art means so much to me. It's an outlet for my creativity, and it's also a way for me to connect with and learn from others. I find solace and peace through creating art, but what makes it even more special for me is sharing these things with other people—not just seeing them by myself. For me, art is like a beautiful mysterious woman, who never grows old, and only gets more beautiful and forever demanding. haha   How did you find your passion for what you do? I believe passion is something that can only be developed. Either you are born with passion, or you create passion. Passion always starts because you tried something out. I found my passion when I was 7 year old. I loved drawing, even my school books were always full of drawings. Those things were my passions. I never intended to make art into a career, I simply did what I did best and love doing best, it's who and what I am and will always be. I'm happy because I chose what I needed to do to be authentic. You don't have to discover passion; it doesn't exist then it’s somewhere hiding from you, you have to create it by giving time, energy and effort.   How would you describe your style of art and what makes it unique?  I don’t really have a good name for my style, but some people called it psychedelic pop art. My illustration explores themes of gender, surreal and contemporary. I use bold lines to draw shapes and then fill them with distinct bright flat colors. I build my characters and perspectives to communicate specific concepts, inherent personalities and the emotions caught within that moment in time.   What is a good human? Good human is a good person, doing interesting things that can inspire everyone in a positive way. Simply being an honest and kind person. How does it feel to be one of our good humans? It was great for me. I'm so happy to be able to share my little story with everyone. It's hard to become a good person, I have many problems in my life and I can't do that. But in fact, we don't need many actions, we just need to do what we should do. Practicing good things in our lives makes us and our surroundings happy. That's the point.   In one word, what does the world need more of? LOVE   In one word, what does the world need less of? POLLUTION Where can people contact you to buy your art or find you on social media? People can find and contact me through my Instagram at @ijalmariachi and soon maybe I will have my own website.     Let us know who else you think we should partner up with! Love, Indosole Team
Becoming Sustainable With Rosalie

Becoming Sustainable With Rosalie

Indosole is excited to introduce Rosalie! Also known as sustainably_rosalie or known for her website worldchangerco.com!   Rosalie’s passion and drive towards a sustainable future has always made her someone we consider a good human, so having her join the Indosole family only seemed natural.  We decided to ask her some questions so that you guys have the opportunity to get to know her a little better and on a deeper level! We can’t wait to create more content with her and see where this collaboration takes us! In a couple of sentences who are you and what do you do? Hi, my name is Rosalie and the island of O'ahu is my home. I've adopted the nickname "Sustainably Rosalie'' because of my Instagram handle and the common theme of my social media and website content. What does “sustainable” mean to you? To me, something is sustainable if it takes the future into account so it can continue to happen. Instead of using resources with no plans to replenish them, it leaves resources the same or even better than before. Being sustainable is absolutely vital in order for us to continue to live life to the fullest on this planet.    What does “ethical” mean to you? I believe the word "ethical" can only be used to describe a product, brand, practice, etc. that cares for the needs of people involved in it. That may sound dogmatic, but I don't mean it has to be perfect. It's simply an intention paired with action, including the well-being of others in the business plan.     What is a good human? I would say a good human often loves others well. Whether that person is taking care of a neighbor or helping someone across the globe through their buying practices, they're sacrificing something of their own in order to love someone else.  How does it feel to be one of our good humans? The title of a good human is worth more to me than most titles people would be striving for. The joy it gives me to be called a good human by the Indosole team brings me back to the joy I felt when I first started spreading awareness to consumers six years ago, believing if I was heard by just one person then it was an absolutely amazing day.    As a person with a voice and a purpose, what’s your message to our viewers? I must say, there are a LOT of messages I want to spread, but over the years I have felt most called to one specific message. That message is to remember that even though most people affected by the clothes and accessories we buy are distant and disconnected from us, no amount of style, status or expression through fashion is worth harming those involved in making it.    In one word, what does the world need more of? Acceptance    In one word, what does the world need less of? ignorance! Check out her website here   Let us know who else you think we should partner up with! Love, Indosole Team
Old Materials = New Solutions - Recycled Coasters Now Available

Old Materials = New Solutions - Recycled Coasters Now Available

Old Materials = New Solutions At Indosole, we have been primarily a footwear brand since day one. We started by picking up old tires on the side of the road and bringing them to a workshop and testing to see which ones could make the best sandal soles. Once we developed a handmade process, we took it to the next level by pulverizing the tires into granular and making molds. It's been an evolution of process in an effort to streamline efficiency and output.  Over the years and along the way, we have tinkered around with lots of materials that would otherwise be looked at as a useless pile of waste. By sifting through trash piles, we came to the realization that there are so many great materials out there that could still be useful. We believe that these old materials deserve another chance, another life!This year, we launched our "Lost Sole" campaign which features recycled sneaker parts as soles on our new sandals. This new wave of old materials has given our brand a more vibrant color and appeal from the ground up. It has also opened up a whole new dimension for collaborations with other brands while having the ability to add vibrant color to otherwise dead soles.  So, by using the same process we created in recycling old tires, we now do the same with sneaker parts! Adding home goods felt like a natural fit with our Tire Tech and now Sneaker Tech too. Our latest solution is with coasters. Coasters are basic but effective, just like sandals :) Our coasters are a symbol of what is possible in giving old materials new life, they are a symbol that virgin materials do not need to be built from the ground up for basic products - They can be reused / recycled! If you have a brand, a non-profit, a corporate event, wedding, or just a huge house that you would like to dial our coasters into. Please hit us up for a fully customized Coaster set - Small Minimums and Quick turnarounds. Please contact us today for a quote and we can prepare a custom coaster for your company or event!  indo@indosole.com  Check out our Indosole x Sea Sheperd Coaster Collab:      
Indosole x Vissla

Indosole x Vissla

Indosole is excited to introduce our latest collaboration with Vissla!  We are thrilled to have teamed up with Vissla on a special and limited edition collaboration sandal featuring our new sneaker sole technology. Vissla shares the same vision for a cleaner and greener world as Indosole and has a history of using recycled and natural materials in their clothing and boardshorts. The Indosole x Vissla sandal is truly a one of a kind piece which is now available in Vissla retail locations in the USA and Australia and online. We created a unique pair of sandals from recycled sneaker soles. Designed to maximize style while keeping the aesthetics minimal, these sandals offer a cushioned footbed with sturdy straps and toe thongs for an effortless stride. The extra grip sneaker soles are dependable for traction on any surface and will carry you forward on all your wild adventures. Each month in Indonesia, major footwear brands produce upwards of 20 million sneakers, with hundreds of thousands being discarded due to defects. Indosole’s ‘Lost Sole’ Technology recycles these lost soles and brings them to life in a comfortable, sturdy sandal that’s made responsibly and benefits the environment.  Check out our other blog post to learn more about ‘Lost Sole’ Technology and the story behind it! Purchase these cool sandals HERE on the Vissla website!   Vissla X Indosole sandal on display at the Pacific City Vissla Store: Huntington Beach, CA With Love, Your Indosole Team!
Fathers Day

Fathers Day

Happy Fathers Day to all the amazing father figures out there! Indosole's mission is to inspire people to live a more fulfilled and conscious life with every step, and there is no one more inspiring than a father. Fathers, like mothers, are pillars in the development of a child's emotional well-being. Children look to their fathers to lay down the rules and enforce them. They also look to their fathers to provide a feeling of security, both physical and emotional. For this exact reason parents are the most important people in our society as they shape our future through their children. Every change starts with education and knowledge and passing that information down to the next generation to raise and create change makers of the future.    To all fathers (and mothers) who are raising their kids to be cautious of our environment and teaching them how to make a lasting positive change, we thank you for being the pillars of our future!   Check out last year's blog to hear what all the Indosole fathers have to say! Click here for the link What is a fathers day without some good dad jokes? What kind of sandals do frogs wear? Open toad. Why can't milk wear sandals? Because they lactose! What do you call sandals with no traction? Slip Flops Winners always wear sandals After all, you shoes, you lose       Hoping all the Fathers out there have a wonderful fathers day. You deserve it! With love,  Indosole
Pride

Pride

June is a month of loving boldly. It is a time to celebrate who you are and who you love despite of gender, identity or sexual orientation. Indosole stands proudly as an ally to the LGBTQIA+ movement and celebrates Pride Month in this respect. We believe that love knows no boundaries or limitations. Loving each other openly, without judgment is something Indosole believes in wholeheartedly. Even though spreading the word of love and acceptance is a full time commitment the entire year around, we still wanted to take part in the worldwide celebration of queerness and highlight individual uniqueness during this special month. Pride month originally originated in celebration of gay people. As time progressed and more queer people felt empowered to come out, the movement became more and more diverse. What started as a holiday lasting only one day was soon extended to a whole month of worldwide celebrations including pride parades, parties, workshops, concerts and memorials for victims of hate crimes or HIV/AIDS with millions of participants. Pride month, as a celebration of love and acceptance, welcomes everyone willing to support the community. Whether you are cisgender and straight or the queerest color of the rainbow, everybody is appreciated. Besides embracing uniqueness and love with no boundaries Pride Month also aims to shine light on LGBTQIA+ issues like gay marriage, same sex adoption and gender rights. This year for pride month Indosole has something special to share... Show your support and let your colors shine with our limited edition pride slides!  These were inspired by all the strong and proud members of the LGBTQIA+ community. We want our Indosole community to show our support and wear our colors proud and loud.  Check out our slides here!   We hope everyone takes this month to express their love and show their support to the LGBTQIA+ community. Don't forget to show your colors off this month!   With love,  Indosole
World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day

World Ocean Day!    In celebration of our oceans we thought we would start off this blog with some awareness and facts about them so we can properly appreciate all that they do for us.  Around 70% of our planet's surface is covered by enormous bodies of water. With the deepest part of it being 11,034 meters (36,201 feet) below the water's surface. According to National Geographic, if Mount Everest was placed there, the tip of the mountain would still be at least 2,133 meters (7,000 feet) below sea level. The oceans offer habitats for millions of species with only a minor amount being known to mankind. To this day it is estimated that we only discovered 5% of the oceans worldwide. The biodiversity still unidentified might be up to millions. Considering the incredible importance of healthy oceans to every living organism on earth, World Oceans Day aims to protect at least 30% of our oceans, lands and waters by the year of 2030 (“30x30”). World Oceans Day specifically demands 30x30 because of recent studies suggesting that we will need to protect at least this amount of our planet, to secure earth‘s life supporting systems and to obtain biodiversity. Currently less than 17% of land and less than 8% of oceans is legally protected from destruction through exploitation or pollution. Oceans connect all living things, provide livelihoods for millions and are vital for life on earth. They produce at least 50% of the oxygen we are breathing and are able to store 50 times more carbon dioxide than the surrounding atmosphere. Additionally, the oceans are essential for climate regulation because they transport heat from the equator to the north and South Pole creating viable weather conditions. The world's oceans also supply humans with food, medicine, as well as jobs for more than 40 million people. Especially people from developing countries rely on the sea for their livelihoods. World Oceans Day therefore strives to keep the global movement growing to apply more pressure on the world's governments and economy to do their part in 30x30 and take it seriously. Already over 41.000 individuals and 1.100 organizations from 84 countries are committed to protect 30% of the plant.  With a seemingly never ending list of points that prove the great importance of oceans to life on earth, Indosole wants to stress the need of taking immediate actions now. Raising awareness for this topic is only one of many actions that can be taken. Participating in online events, signing petitions, educating yourself or people close to you, creating or consuming art meant to highlight the struggles we are facing can be likewise as impactful. As a certified B-Corp Indosole is committed to do our best to impact earth's sensitive balance between humans and nature positively, hence the celebration of World Oceans Day! Let's all take a minute today to truly appreciate all that our oceans do for us.   With love,  Your Indosole Team <3
The Lost Soles

The Lost Soles

Giving a fresh start to the "Lost Soles" of the sneaker industry of Indonesia.  Since 2009, Indosole has prevented 150k+ waste tires from going to the landfill and given them new life as soles for our footwear. We strive to not only be pioneers of recycling in the footwear sector but also reduce and repurpose landfill waste on a global scale. With transparency in our manufacturing process as a core driver, Indosole is continuously reworking its production process and concept to become the greenest and cleanest in the game. As a certified B Corp we are committed to the standards set forth in order to create a more ethical and open business environment.  As environmental keepers of the future and simply a dedicated team of motivated and young people, we decided it was time to evolve one step further. We are proud to introduce our newest technology "The Lost Sole Collection."  As an international hub for sneaker manufacturing, millions of pairs of shoes are being produced monthly in Indonesia. With this rapid growth, there are 100's of thousands of defects which are being thrown away.  Similar to tires, sneaker soles are made from strong and durable materials that are made so well that they will take a long time to break down. Material of this strength can take over 1,000 years to decompose!  In following our signature process of turning waste tires to footwear soles, we have developed our "Recycled Sneaker Technology." Each defective sneaker sole is pulverized into a powder and then reshaped and molded into a 60% recycled sole. The new advantage as we see it, is using more waste which otherwise sits in a landfill while also giving our footwear soles more life and COLOR.  We now offer 3 colors in Flip Flops, Slides, and Platforms which are extra comfortable and ready for any adventure that comes their way.  We are always looking to make our products better and this season we have. With the same quality, durability and attention to detail; the new and improved slides are more comfortable like never before featuring Dream Cloud Comfort. Indosole aims to make a shift from evergreen talks into a more refreshing product. Indosole believes that with a fun approach the company is able to contribute to shaping the consumer patterns of future generations.  We hope you enjoy our latest creation and try a pair for yourself.  The Indosole Team