Our Preferred Materials Chart

In 2024, we introduced the ‘Bared Preferred Materials Chart’, specifically tailored for the unique needs of footwear. This chart is based on publicly available research from the Global Textile Exchange and adapted by Bared to support the unique needs of the footwear industry. It encompasses all internal and external components, serving as guide for our design team and suppliers.

Our chart prioritises the use of fibres that are innovative (100% biobased or plastic-free), regenerative, recycled, or organic. To ensure the materials are what they claim to be, we require our materials to be certified by third-party, globally recognised programs such as the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS). We give preference to standards that monitor further into the supply chain, covering both environmental and social compliance.

All materials matter - inside and out.

Unlike typical charts adopted by other footwear brands, which often exclude internal components and fasteners, the Bared Preferred Fibres Chart covers all internal and external components. During production, our suppliers disclose the material makeup of every component used in each shoe style and provide details of their suppliers. This intensive and non-standard process in the footwear industry is a powerful reflection of our commitment to supply chain transparency.

Why do we love sourcing certified materials?

By selecting certified materials, we can make measurable impacts on critical areas like energy consumption and water use within our supply chain, even in areas we typically can't directly control. This seemingly simple commitment is vital for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) within our supply chain, as material usage represents the highest portion of our carbon footprint.

For our team, sourcing certified materials has become part of the way we design and create—it’s just how we work. By building sustainability into our process, we’re able to make it a natural part of what we do every day, instead of treating it like an extra step.

Our Material Mix - 2024

We have analysed the material composition of our shoe range by breaking down the weight of each component in one style of each shoe. By totalling these weights, we calculated the overall material usage for each style. This allowed us to determine the percentage of each material used across our entire range.