Sustainable in Every Sense

Yep, the same carbon fiber that has been used to build rocket ships, high end bicycles, tennis rackets, golf clubs, and fishing rods, where alternatively the carbon fiber is referred to as “graphite.” And the same carbon fiber that is now being used for creating and conserving energy in the form of windmill blades, lighter planes, and automobiles.

The midsoles of the typical athletic shoe, made primarily of foam, lose their cushioning and begin to wear down very quickly. In contrast, the carbon fiber midsole of OESH provides true effective compliance which remains consistent through the life of the shoe. It will be the outsole or the upper in OESH that breaks down first (note that the very minimal foam used in OESH serves simply to hold the shoe together…when that compresses down it actually makes the shoe even more comfortable).

Using an innovative process, the carbon fiber cantilevers, which are non-toxic and VOC free, are made locally, here in Charlottesville, Virginia. In sharp contrast to the toxic manufacturing process of foam, OESH’s factory uses no toxic chemicals in its manufacturing and emits no toxic waste or fumes to the environment. Further encouraging the positive environmental appeal of a midsole that is built to last, is that the raw materials and manufacturing equipment used to make the cantilevers are also made in the United States–amplifying the long-term sustainable advantage of OESH.