Saman, an eco-friendly and very Colombian project in Paris

Author: Saman  

Paris, November 2020.

Parisian fashion makes an impact at first sight, not only the haute couture that adorns the stars of the city's most central neighborhoods, but also urban fashion accessible to ordinary society.

Former industrial neighborhoods are now rising in Paris as new centers of creativity, youth, and an exciting dynamic for innovation. The 11th arrondissement stands out for its energy and the ecological responsibility of the shops and bars found there. Precisely, in this neighborhood, we began our story in Paris and found in the streets the inspiration to create a product that transmits all the energy of Paris and the colorful spirit of Colombia.

After 23 years living and traveling in Colombia, Juan David decided to study in Europe, where he discovered the enormous difference in the quality of life between European and Latin American citizens. Even people with fewer economic resources can access an apartment with minimal comfort conditions, something unthinkable in Colombia.

This impact sowed a seed in our ideas for 3 years. We decided to look for a project that would empower the local Colombian industry and improve the quality of life of farmers and city dwellers.

Displaced indigenous people, disappearances, lack of education, violence, and everything that darkens the beauty of our landscapes is an open wound that we want to help heal by uniting common projects.

Walking through the streets of Paris, seeing its art galleries, markets, and organic shops, Haussmannian buildings, the baroque decoration of the churches, and listening to the sirens that accompany the rhythm of the city. All this, combined with the terraces of Parisian cafes and the relaxed style of its youth, allowed us to discover a culture of eco-responsible sneakers that was growing in Europe. 

Brands such as SAYE, FLAMINGO, ZETA, VEJA, COMOVITA, among others, are brands created in Central Europe. Barcelona, Paris, and Rome are the centers for the creation of these sustainable concepts where a product is designed and then produced, in most cases, in Portugal using recycled, organic, or vegan materials.

These brands are only a reflection of the environmental awareness of European youth and governmental support for eco-sustainable initiatives. For us, this was like a revelation.

Awakening the environmental awareness of young Colombians through such an emblematic product as sneakers, and producing them with Colombian hands, based on vegan and organic materials cultivated in Colombia, is a unique opportunity to unite projects that we could not let go to waste.

We decided to unite projects. We contacted a genius in Antioquia who decided to patent the production of leather from fique leaves, some experts in Bogotá who recycle rubber from tires for reuse, a very experienced team in Cali who use regenerated cotton to make laces, and even a master in the production of boxes from sugar cane bagasse.

We contacted a very Colombian manufacturing team that puts all its love into the final product. This team provides employment to young people from troubled neighborhoods in eastern Cali and gives single mothers the opportunity to return to work.

We only needed a name...

We are music lovers, and our Franco-Colombian roots could not be denied, coming from the country with the most musical rhythms in the world. Bambuco, joropo, currulao, and vallenato are so diverse that they cannot be framed in a single concept. But in the Baroque era, a concept emerged that encompassed many musical forms. The sonata, the union of sweet notes that accompany the rhythm of the heart, that increase pressure and awaken the senses.

This is the story of Saman...

Sonatta is Saman's first design, inspired by the fashion and culture of the 11th arrondissement of Paris. The artistic dynamic and youthful energy make these sneakers an experience rather than just a product.  

Paris is a metropolis full of a cultural richness that reached all corners of the Saman designers, a richness that is now expressed in the comfort and good taste of classic sneakers.

But the story of the first Saman model doesn't stop there. Young people like you and us participated in its refinement during several sessions. We innovated with a public creative process to ensure that you will love our designs. Created by you, for you.

The «S»

A touch of minimalism and neatness makes the letter S stand out on the side of the shoe. The S represents the perfection of life. Unlike the circle and infinity, symbols that represent natural cycles, the S represents the zigzagging of our decisions, changes, and our capacity as humanity to adapt. 

Features:

- Made in Colombia

- Sustainable

- Responsible

The spirit of SAMAN is to drastically reduce environmental impact, boost local industry, and uphold human rights by replacing traditional sneakers made from polluting materials with a responsible, sustainable, and ethically handcrafted product from Colombia.

We unite spectacular projects:

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MATERIALS

Vegan leather based on fique

We use vegetable leather created from fique. We do not use materials from animals.

Fashion is the second most polluting activity in the world. Inks and polyesters are used to reduce costs and replace leather, but these are highly polluting processes.

Colombia is the main producer of fique in the world, but only 4% of the plant is used. The long fibers of the plant are usually used to produce coffee sacks. Vegan leather is made from short fibers.

Reduction of environmental impact:

• A cow produces 8625 kg of CO2 per year.
• The fique plant has the opposite effect. It absorbs 7.5 kg of CO2 per year and converts it into oxygen.
• Unlike cotton, the fourth most water-intensive crop, fique requires so little water that it can be maintained by natural irrigation.
• One ton of fique requires 90% less energy than one ton of polyester or polypropylene.

This is an innovation patented by a Colombian and its production will take place in Itagüí.

In addition, the crops are usually located in areas of the country where hectares of illicit crops are replaced.

Natural and reused rubber from discarded tires

The east of Colombia is one of the most important sources of natural rubber in Latin America. In departments like Meta, Vichada, and Santander, high-quality natural rubber is produced, replacing highly polluting materials like expanded PVC, one of the most used materials in footwear today.

On the other hand, one of the 10 largest environmental problems in the world is the disposal of solid waste like tires. They are often burned or discarded in the streets. This, of course, generates social problems like diseases transmitted by mosquitoes (yellow fever, dengue) and environmental problems like high levels of air pollution.

Very soon, in our black models, we will use reused rubber from recycled tires to create our soles.

 Reduction of environmental impact:

• 90 million cars are sold annually worldwide
• And with them 360 million tires, not counting spare parts.
• A tire takes 500 years to degrade.
• Only 20% of tires are recycled in Latin America.
• Reduction of polluting gases from incineration.

Laces made from regenerated cotton

SAMAN sneakers come with an alternative to conventional cotton. Cotton is recycled by classifying materials by color. Then, the fabric is shredded to obtain the raw fiber. Finally, it is spun again to be reused in new garments.

This is an environmentally friendly recycling process as no new cotton is used.

Reduction of environmental impact:

• Water savings in production.
• Reduction of CO2 emissions.
• Decrease in monoculture and fertilizers.

In addition, the laces are produced in commune 22 of the city of Cali. We support local industry to reduce the CO2 emitted during transport.

And since every detail is important...

Cardboard made from sugarcane bagasse

The first contact you will have with your SAMAN sneakers will be with a natural material, without chemicals and, above all, made from waste.

Our box is made 100% from cane fibers extracted from bagasse or the leftover material from this industry.

• Biodegradable
• Renewable in short periods of time
• No chemical bleaches

And if that weren't enough, our boxes are made by some people from Cali who have a very traditional and responsible company with their workers in the San Nicolás neighborhood.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Thank you for believing in Colombian industry and for reducing your environmental impact. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------