Indosole

Purchasing a pair of flip flops while on vacation? People do it all the time … it’s seemingly insignificant, right? Not for Kyle Parsons. It changed his life. And the world.

During a 2004 trip to Bali, Kyle purchased a pair of sandals soled with motorcycle tires. This led him to learn more about the worldwide tire problem. Every year, 1.5 billion tires are discarded. It takes thousands of years for the rubber to decompose. As the tires sit and rot, they become breeding grounds for disease-carrying insects. Burning tires causes toxic oils and fumes. These staggering truths inspired him to prevent pollution and in 2009 began repurposing rubber and making his own line of tire-soled shoes: Indosoles.

Today the California-based brand aims to keep 1 million tires from negatively impacting the earth. It sources rubber from Indonesia to create flip flops, slides and other eco-friendly footwear. The sidewalls are removed and the remaining rubber is hand-cut into the shape of the sole. Uppers are constructed from natural materials including banana leaves, organic canvas and leaves.

Indosole’s conscious consumerism doesn’t end there. The colors of its ESSNTLS line are symbolic of an element the company aims to protect. Take the color granite—it represents the mountains and efforts made to stop destructive mining practices. Shore is all about keeping the ocean clean.

Shop our selection of “Soles With Soul” here on Gear.com. Every step you take in your new Indsoles is a comfortable, stylish reminder of your own eco-consciousness.