Shoes Handwoven Gender Neutral Slippers

Handcrafted, original, timeless, vegan, gender-neutral shoes. These charming and super comfortable shoes will look great on your feet and are easy to pair with; you can wear them with different outfits, and they never go out of style. They can undoubtedly highlight the type of materials you value, symbolise the values that are important to you and tell people what you care about. Each pair is unique and tells a story about the origin of its materials and the artisans who handcrafted them, representing their region, Western Uganda. 

Size 
Lightweight shoes.
The shoes are available in different sizes. 

Materials 
Local natural fibres: raffia, banana fibre, and naturally dyed banana silk. The sole is made of repurposed rubber tyres that would otherwise end up in landfills.
They are lined with 100% preloved cotton sheets that we buy in local markets and eco-print with local leaves and flowers. 

Care Instructions 
We suggest using a clean, damp cloth to wipe down the shoes' exterior. You can easily dismantle the shoes at the end of their life, compost the woven part, and repurpose the rubber tyred soles. 

Packaging 
Each pair of shoes is packed with recycled and/or handmade paper, ready for display in your store. We use handmade paper and natural inks to make our tags.

How it's Made 
Seeds & Stories operates according to the 4R approach: reduce, reuse, regenerate and recycle. Every pair of shoes is handmade in Bigodi, a rural village in Western Uganda, by Jane, a highly skilled artisan from our women artisans group. Jane makes the shoes from scratch; she cuts the soles, weaves mats for the upper part, cuts the shoes to size and joins the pieces together. 

Jane weaves our shoes with local natural fibres, raffia, banana fibre, and naturally dyed banana silk. We only use organic, sustainably harvested local fibres and local natural dyes such as plants, leaves, roots, and flowers. From harvesting to natural dyeing, from hand weaving to finishing, our artisans work at a slow pace in harmony with nature, conserving natural resources. 

We use rainwater to make our dye baths. Natural dyes are a biodegradable, non-toxic alternative to petroleum-derived and harmful synthetic dyes, making them better for our artisans, customers, and the environment. 

Each Seeds & Stories product is ethically made from a combination of local natural fibres and dyes, repurposed materials, modern designs, and ancient techniques passed down through generations. Our artisans are empowered to use their skills to create our unique products while preserving their traditional crafts and cultural heritage.

We strive to create products that leave the world in a better place than when we started. Our stylish shoes create social, economic and learning opportunities for women in rural Uganda, increasing their income and well-being while promoting traditional crafts and positively impacting the environment. With every purchase from Seeds & Stories, you are not just buying a unique artisanal product but making a difference to women in Bigodi while contributing to environmental regeneration. 

Made to order
All our products are made to order. The shoes are available in different sizes, styles, patterns and colours. 

Please note that as the shoes are handmade, there may be slight variations in the design. Changes in colour and patterns are likely to happen due to seasonal natural dyes and natural fibres available, and we believe this adds extra charm and uniqueness to our products. 

Please send us a message with your preferences. Please note our artisans take approximately one week to make your product. Then, depending on your location, it can take around four weeks for the product to be delivered. So, you should expect the order within six weeks; the wait is totally worth it.