Over hill and dale, by bike or on foot, in the rain, under the sun, on the beach or on the tarmac… Le Boudoir Numérique will wear, on a daily basis, bio-sneakers from the French brand MoEA to test their qualities. First entry of this logbook: the unboxing video (with a cat).

By Ludmilla Intravaia

Can you really make shoes with apples or grape? Do you find this kind of shoes in stores? Is it comfortable ? Won't they disintegrate at my feet after two months? Is it as good as a leather sneaker? How is it better for the environment? Is it expensive? On Le Boudoir Numérique, where we talk a lot about innovative materials, as an alternative to materials derived from the cruel exploitation of animals and from polluting petrochemicals, we regularly exchange views with readers who ask us these kind of questions. This is why, after having interviewed Achille Gazagnes, the co-founder of MoEa, on the occasion of the launch of his brand of vegan and low carbon sneakers (read here), we wanted to test, in real life, a pair of his bio-sneakers, in everyday conditions, from their delivery to their (still undetermined) end of life, at the hyperactive feet of Le Boudoir Numérique’s creative director, Lionel Samain. The pair of sneakers was provided by MoEa. Le Boudoir Numérique is not paid by the brand for this test.

Object of the test: a pair of bio-sneakers GEN1 All in by MoEa.

* "Bio-sneakers" because the sneakers are made of innovative bio-materials, from recycled fruits and plants (we will come back to this, in more detail, throughout this test).

* "All in" because the sneaker is made of all the vegan and more sustainable materials used by the brand, namely grape for its white base, as well as pineapple, cactus, apple and corn for its decorative colorful inserts.

Step 1: Unboxing (approved by the quality controller of packaging boxes and kibble of Le Boudoir Numérique, Mr. Spock)

February 9, 2022: arrival, safe and sound, of the shoes for their unboxing, immortalized in the video below.

Regarding the packaging, the brand MoEa specified to Boudoir Numérique that it is made of recycled cardboard; that it does not include, apart from the delivery note and the paper protecting the sneakers or slipped into each shoe, "any flyer, everything being written on the box, to save paper" and, finally, that it is "sturdy enough to serve as an outbox, in case of return."

* Read Lionel Samain’s opinion, after seven weeks wearing the shoes, from February to March 2022, in this second part of Le Boudoir Numérique logbook.

* 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”.

* Read the second part of Achille Gazagnes’ interview on Le Boudoir Numérique: “MoEa’s values are highly anticipated on the sneakers market”.

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