BIG LIFE, SMALL FOOTPRINT
SAOLA: the brand for those with drive.
Since 2018, SAOLA has been designing lightweight, comfortable, stylish, nature-inspired footwear that supports everyday adventurers in every step they take.
But in reality, SAOLA is more than just a brand of stylish and comfortable sneakers; it’s a mindset based on two simple ideas. If we’re going to have an impact on our environment, it might as well be positive. If we’re going to move forward, it might as well be in the right direction.
And to do that, nothing beats a pair of eco-sustainable shoes.
The kind that lets you get off on the right foot and move freely between city and countryside, all while minimizing your environmental footprint.
SAOLA shoes are just that.
Both inspired and inspiring, trendy and durable, lightweight and committed.
Just like those who created them.
Fashion enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors, keen to reconcile their two passions through one single mission: to design shoes that combine utility with pleasure.
And just as SAOLA continuously innovates for an increasingly eco-responsible approach, those who choose to wear its shoes move it forward in their own way, step by step.
Do you have one, two, or ten pairs of Saola sneakers?
Welcome to the circle of those with drive!
SAOLA: A NAME THAT COMMITS US
To embody our values and affirm our commitment to biodiversity, we needed much more than just a catchy name. We needed a strong symbol, capable in itself of evoking nature, its creative beauty, but also its extreme fragility.
We found it in the mountains between Vietnam and Laos, with the SAOLA: a small, antelope-like mammal nicknamed the Asian unicorn.
Discovered only 20 years ago and already threatened with extinction, this rare species is a true icon of biodiversity.
PRESERVING BIODIVERSITY: AN IDEA IN MOTION
A priority issue that unites us
As designers and manufacturers, we are aware of our impact.
Our brand’s primary objective is to develop eco-responsible footwear, by continuously innovating the materials used, but also the entire life cycle of our products.
It is also to use our reputation to share our values and encourage consumers to follow us.
And with SAOLA shoes on your feet, naturally, it is not hard to follow in our footsteps.
Finally, it is to use our growth to donate a portion of our profits to protect forests and endangered species, by selecting reliable partners whose actions are measurable in the regions that need it most.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL APPROACH THAT IS GAINING GROUND
Our brand reflects the biodiversity it defends: borderless.
Distributed across 4 continents, our products are manufactured in Vietnam: a strategic location that allows us to minimize our carbon footprint.
Aware that this is a good start, but not enough, we will not stop there.
In parallel with the best practices deployed to find the best environmental and social compromise, the brand's goal is to gradually set up production sites closer to our places of consumption.
But not just anywhere and not just anyhow.
In countries that share our commitments and allow us to maintain a competitive price positioning, to give everyone the opportunity to wear our values and spread our ideas.
The story of Guillaume, the founder
In 2018, Guillaume, 43, married and a father of two, made a decision that seemed insane to some, but was deeply meaningful to him: he chose to leave a comfortable position in the outdoor industry to launch a footwear brand.
But not just any brand!
One that stands out, thanks to the environmental mission that follows it every step of the way.
Inspired by his experience and driven by his commitment to the planet, it is a symbol of ecology in action, combining sustainable manufacturing with support for biodiversity conservation efforts. Despite the sleepless nights and gray hairs, the commitment of Guillaume and his entire team to carry out SAOLA’s mission remains as strong as ever
