Open IP Shoe Initiatives

What can I do?

Canadian sustainable footwear brand Thesus (formerly Alice + Whittles) is making a bold move to combat potential stagnation in the sustainable fashion movement. Thesus is open-sourcing the intellectual property (IP) behind their iconic Weekend Boot, considered one of the most sustainable outdoor footwear options available.

This unprecedented move urges major retailers like Patagonia and REI to adopt the design and accelerate the industry's shift towards sustainable practices.

Thesus demonstrates remarkable transparency by offering their complete IP package. This includes details on producers, material suppliers, manufacturing processes, patterns, and a comprehensive ecosystem map for the Weekend Boot, a product boasting a minimum of 96% renewable and recycled materials.

By open-sourcing this design, Thesus hopes to inspire large-scale adoption of sustainable practices within the footwear industry. This initiative has the potential to significantly reduce the environmental impact of footwear production.