GENERAL QUESTIONS

 

How is SAOLA pronounced?

Ahhh…the million-dollar question. As an international team with varying accents, some of us say SAY-oh-la, some say SAH-ow-lah. The animal we’re named after is pronounced SOW-la. Our official stance is there are bigger problems in the world, so whatever works for you works for us.

 

What makes SAOLA Shoes sustainable?

We’re using as many recycled, organic, and bio-based materials as possible in the construction of our shoes. But there are still limitations preventing them from being truly 100% eco-friendly, which is why we’re committed to continuing to research and make improvements every season.

How are saola shoes environmentally friendly?
At SAOLA, we try to use as many recycled, organic and bio-sourced materials as possible to make our shoes. We focus our efforts on the materials used, rather than the production methods, as it represents a larger part of the shoe’s carbon footprint (70%)

The process isn’t perfect. But our goal is to become more environmentally friendly, season after season. For more information on the materials we use, please visit the ECO-DESIGN section of the site. 

Why do you produce in Vietnam and not in France ?

In a perfect world, we would produce shoes in every country we deliver to (ie. if we sold shoes in France, we would produce them in France). Logistically speaking, this would be a nightmare and hard to control quality. We simply are not big enough, nor do we have the manpower. 

In addition, if we look at the carbon footprint of producing in Asia, and shipping by boat (which is what we do), it has lower impact than shipping via truck or by road which would be the case if we produced in Europe. 

So instead, we focus most of our attention on the the materials used in production, and as it turns out, most of those materials come from Asia. 
Vietnam... So what about the conditions of your workers ?
We work with factories that have social and environmental charters in place (set up by larger brands).
But this year, we wanted to go even further. Of all the brands working with these factories, we are the first to have applied for BSCI certification, and are in the process of being certified.

 

This certification will enable us to guarantee favourable working conditions for employees, without discrimination. It offers fair pay, decent hours, no forced labour, responsible waste management, freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining.  
 

 

 

ORDER QUESTIONS

Do SAOLA Shoes come with a warranty?

Does James Brown get down? The answer is an emphatic YES. We want you to be totally stoked on your SAOLA Shoes, so we take them back if you’re not.

SAOLA shoes offers a 6-month warranty against any manufacturer defects in materials or workmanship. This does not include normal wear and tear, improper care, product abuse, or use of product for unintended purposes.

Want more specifics? Read the full Warranty Policy here.

What does SAOLA charge for shipping?

Shipping is free of charge within the continental US on all orders of $89.00 or more. We will charge a 8.00$ flat fee on orders of less than $89.00. We will charge you the freight amount we are being charged by the freight company outside of the continental US. 

For shipping to CANADA, SAOLA SHOES does not cover any duties incurred that must be paid upon delivery.

Forms of payment does SAOLA accept?

We accept all major credit cards.

Can I change or cancel my order?

Just email us at hi@saolashoes.com.   

What is SAOLA’s return/exchange policy?

Bought the wrong size online? No problem! Please consult our Returns and Exchanges Policy for more information. If you purchased your Saola Shoes from a retailer, please see below.

Can I return products I purchased from a retailer at SAOLAshoes.com?

Sorry, but no. Please contact the store you bought them from to make arrangements.

 

PRODUCT QUESTIONS

Do SAOLA Shoes come in varying widths?

No – widths are all proportionate to size, based on a “medium” fit.

I’m unsure of my size. Help.

Here is our size chart. They run *pretty* close to size, but a bit narrow. In general, if you’re between sizes or are unsure, we recommend sizing up. Any additional specific size recommendations can be found on the product pages.

Do shoes made from recycled plastic bottles feel like walking on plastic?

Bless your heart. No. You wouldn’t even know they were recycled had we not told you. Our goal is to make recycled as comfortable and cool as the shoes you’ve known your whole life!

What is the best way to wash my SAOLA shoes?

Your SAOLA shoes can be washed in the washing machine in a delicate cycle after taking out the cork insole.