“MoEa’s values are highly anticipated on the sneakers market”

February 15, 2022 Ludmilla Intravaia

Achille Gazagnes, co-founder of MoEa, on October 13, 2021, in Paris (© Lionel Samain for Le Boudoir Numérique 2021)

2/2 - Wearing sneakers without causing animal sufferings and reducing your carbon footprint is possible with a brand of vegan and low-carbon sneakers like MoEa. Second and last part of our interview with its co-founder, Achille Gazagnes.

By Ludmilla Intravaia

In the first part of your interview (read here), you enlightened us on the innovative materials, apple, grape, corn, cactus or pineapple that make up the sneakers of your new brand MoEa, launched last spring. In fact, could we say that MoEA is an alternative to leather shoes from animal origin?

Yes, our concept is to replace them. From the uppers of our sneakers to the water-based glue, no animals are involved in our brand which is approved as vegan by PETA. The equivalent of MoEa, in another market, food for example, would be a meatless steak brand. Fully committed to plant-based materials, our brand is also a member of the 1% for the Planet organization through which we donate 1% of our annual sales to WWF's forest protection programs.

What are the negative points of animal leather?

From the point of view of respect for animal life, the breeding and slaughtering conditions are not up to standard, so we avoid all materials derived from animals because the leather industry mistreats them. In France, 80% of slaughterhouses are non-compliant, I let you imagine what is happening in the two largest leather producing countries, Pakistan and Nigeria.

MoEa sneaker in cactus (©MoEa)

And from an ecological point of view?

Animal husbandry is highly polluting, leather being responsible for 3.5% of greenhouse gas emissions. Tanning is also very polluting, due to the use of chromium and solvents in tanneries. Animal skins putrefy very quickly, which is why many toxic chemicals are used to make them rot-proof and fix the colors on the materials. The NGO Blacksmith, very committed to the environment, counts tanneries among the ten most polluting industries. Then there are all the logistical movements, the skins that are brought to the tanneries, then transported to retailers, etc.

Working conditions in tanneries are also very difficult for human beings, aren't they?

Absoutely. This can easily be seen, for example, in the tanneries of Marrakech, to which everyone has access. The working conditions there are very harsh, in the midst of nauseating odors and toxic products. There is also a problem of water pollution, the tanning industry being very water-intensive, in countries where there are not good recycling systems. As a result, in Bangladesh for example, many rivers are polluted, because of tanning. Locally, it's really destructive for humans and the planet.

MoEa sneakers in grape (©MoEa)

How was your brand launch received?

It was awesome. Beyond our expectations, in fact and with a lot of customers abroad. The first to participate in our crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter were the United States, followed by France, Australia, Canada and many other countries. This is great because we will be able to develop our brand internationally very quickly. At the start of our Kickstarter campaign last spring, we sold 2,000 pairs of sneakers in one month. It was a success, especially since we have been spotted by many stores who want to distribute MoEa in Australia, Japan, France, the United States, etc.

MoEa sneaker in corn (©MoEa)

Do you think that buyers are ready for this type of vegan and low-carbon alternatives?

We witness a huge attraction for the values of respect for the environment and sentient beings defended by our brand in a sneaker market where they are highly anticipated. The sneaker market is still very classic, not much is happening around innovative materials. Moreover, our product is desirable in itself, the shoe is great, you want to wear it, even if you don’t know anything about the values behind it. And when you learn that it has a low environmental impact, that it was made without animal abuse, it adds meaning to this purchase.

How do you see the future of MoEa?

We will continue our development, establish partnerships with stores, probably launch a new model of sneakers next spring. We test materials such as mango fiber and we closely follow the evolution of materials such as mushroom. We will continue to explore all these innovative materials that ultimately create sneakers that are as desirable as those made from hydrocarbons or animal-derived materials. And our exploration has only just begun.

* Read the first part of Achille Gazagnes’ interview on Le Boudoir Numérique: “MoEa defends plant-based materials, for the respect of animal life and the environment”.

* MoEa website is here.

* Learn more about innovative vegan and cruelty-free fashion and beauty, by exploring the Boudoir Numérique special file there.

Achille Gazagnes, co-founder of MoEa, on October 13, 2021, in Paris (© Lionel Samain for Le Boudoir Numérique 2021)

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