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Our Shoes

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We believe in making shoes that look good, feel good, and do good for the planet. From sourcing local materials to crafting quality design, each step of our process is a step forward for the footwear industry. 

UPPER = CORN & EUCALYPTUS
MIDSOLE = CORK & COTTON
OUTSOLE = NATURAL RUBBER
Laces & Webbing = CORN

What goes into a Kengos shoe?

UPPER = CORN & EUCALYPTUS
Our Amaize knit got its name from its main ingredient: corn! We blend it with eucalyptus fibers to create a knit upper that’s super soft on the inside yet sturdy and durable on the outside. It’s antimicrobial and temperature regulating too, so you can stay fresh and stink-free all day long.

Plant-based composition: 100%
MIDSOLE = CORK & COTTON
Each ingredient in our midsole has been chosen with purpose. The main one, cork, comes from the bark of cork trees in southern Portugal and is a fully self-generating resource. We then mix it with natural latex for flexibility and co-mold it with cotton (no glue!) for a cushy texture and an incredibly comfy stride, all day long.

Plant-based composition: 98%
Synthetic composition: 2%
OUTSOLE = NATURAL RUBBER
We get really technical with our outsole. Our polymer chemist experimented with over 30 unique rubber formulations before perfecting a compound that uses 96% natural materials (vs. 0% in industry standard EVA) and has the abrasion resistance of a work boot.

Plant-based composition: 68%
Natural mineral composition (sand): 28%
Synthetic composition: 4%
Laces & Webbing = CORN
To put the final touch on each shoe, we use the Amaize webbing for stitching our shoe together and Amaize lace for our shoelaces. Fun fact: we coat the laces and webbing with a potato starch based wax for added strength and stain resistance!

Plant-based composition: 99%
Synthetic composition: 1%

What makes Kengos different

We’re proud to always stay a step ahead of the footwear industry. While industry-standard brands use leather, synthetic foams (EVAs), plastics (PETs, TPU/PUs), adhesives, synthetic rubbers, polyesters, and nylons in their shoes, we don’t. It’s this simple difference that drives us to design products that eliminate waste without asking you to compromise on style, comfort, or price.

No Animal products
No Adhesives
No Synthetic rubber
No Polyester or Nylon
No Thermo polyurethane

Our shoes do with 5 parts what others do with 30+.

Shoes are the most carbon-intensive item in your closet because they have so many components. We’ve redesigned our shoes from the ground up to deliver fresh, quality style with a lower footprint.

No <br> adhesives

No
adhesives

We created and patented a new way to make shoes that uses no harmful glues or chemicals whatsoever.

Reductionist Approach

Reductionist Approach

It’s a simple equation:
Fewer components =
smaller supply chain =
smaller environmental footprint.

Functional<br>Design

Functional
Design

Our products are designed to deliver great style, comfort, and durability together with science-backed sustainability.

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What are the 5 components?

Amaize™ Knit Upper
Our Amaize™ knit upper is made in Leon, Mexico on a flat-knitting machine. This allows us to make each piece exactly to size, eliminating the waste typically created when cutting patterns out of large rolls of material.
Midsole
Our cork midsole is made in Portugal, where most of the world's cork is grown! The process starts by mixing granulated cork (think wine stopper leftovers) together with liquid latex in a giant mixer (think a Kitchenaid® X 10). This forms a paste-like material which is placed inside a mold where it is heated and pressed into the shape of our midsole.
PURE FLEX OUTSOLE
Our Pure Flex™ natural rubber outsole is made in Leon, Mexico. First we mix together the materials that make up our compound and form it into sheets. We then cut the sheets into small shoe-shaped pieces, always recycling the leftovers, and place them into molds where they are heated and pressed into the shape of our outsole.
AMAIZE™ LACE & WEBBING
Our Amaize™ laces and webbing are made in Leon, Mexico. We start with our Amaize fiber and weave it tightly into our laces and webbing. Then we apply a protective coating made of potato starch for additional strength and stain resistance before using it to assemble our shoes.
How are they assembled?

How are they assembled?

The Lace-Ups are assembled by hand without the use of any glue or adhesive! We call this construction method the 1Knot™ because --you guessed it!-- it's held together with just one knot.


The 1Knot gives the Lace-Up it's unique look by exposing the stitching that holds the shoe together around the perimeter for the world to see. This functional design element is central to the look and feel of the Lace-Up.


The 1Knot also makes the Lace-Up designed for disassembly. No adhesives means we can take the shoe back at the end of its life, disassemble it, and compost or recycle all five of the components.


That's footwear evolved. That's Kengos.


Piece Knit Process

Piece Knit Process

The piece knit process refers to the way that our upper is produced. It’s the smarter way to manufacture because it optimizes how much material we use and consumes only what’s necessary. The traditional cut-and-sew technique is much more wasteful in comparison. Piece knitting also gives us limitless design opportunities for the future. Kengos go-go boots, anyone?

Less is More

Fewer parts equal less waste, less energy usage, and easier disposal.

5

Components in Kengos

Amaize Knit Upper
Cork Midsole
Pure Flex Outsole
Amaize Lace
Amaize Webbing

Hint: Simpler is Better!
30+

Components in Typical Shoes

Upper
Midsole
Outsole
Heel detail
Insole Foam
Insole Lining
Webbing
Heel reinforcement
Toe puff
Heel Lining
Toe Lining
Backers
Hotmelt
Collar Foam
Lace Guide
Interfacing
Adhesives
Elastic
Stitching Thread
Strobel Fabric
Shoelace
Plastic Lace Tips
Metal eyelets (8 - 16)
Shank
Lasting board