Nova is a durable full grain leather that is slightly stiffer than our other smooth leather options. It is used for shoes that need the extra stiffness for proper support. This includes most of our shoes that are stitched directly to the sole, such as our Classics, Sandals, Ramblers and Merry Janes. Texture appearance looks the same as our Sublime and Vegetable Tanned leathers, though grain size can vary throughout every hide.

Sublime is a durable full grain leather that is slightly softer and more supple than Nova. We use this leather for our "turned" shoes (those that are made inside-out and then turned so the seams are on the inside) because the softer texture wraps around the foot well for a cozy fit. Used for our Roo moccasins, Dash RunAmocs and Primal RunAmocs. The texture of Sublime leather looks the same as our Nova and Vegetable Tanned leathers, though grain size can vary throughout every hide.

AGED LEATHER: this soft leather has been distressed to give it a rustic look. It is used to make our Rogue shoes and select parts of our other custom shoes. Please note: aged leather peels easily when scuffed.

VEGETABLE TANNED LEATHER: the only leather we import from Europe, due to it's highly sustainable properties. While all of our leather meets our sustainable standards (all of our leather is tanned without formaldehyde and colored with non-toxic food grade dye), this leather goes a step further with a purely vegetable-based tanning process using only grass-fed cows raised on controlled sustainable pastures in Germany's Bavarian Alps. Preferred by people with extreme chemical sensitivity. Due to it's high cost, there is an extra surcharge for use of vegetable-tanned leather in custom shoes. Texture appearance looks similar to Nova and Sublime leathers, though grain size can vary throughout every hide. Please note this "naked" leather is likely to show cosmetic flaws and stains easily, even with just water.

SHINY LEATHER: smooth leather dyed with a glossy finish to give a shiny reflective look. Available for most of our custom shoes that are made from either Nova or Sublime leather. Please note that shiny leather will dull with wear. Here's an example of Shiny Gold toddler moccasins worn for several weeks:

OIL TANNED: Oil tanned are full grain leathers used for Camino Sandals characterized by a vintage, distressed look embracing natural imperfections such as scars and scratches. The leather is not treated with a topcoat or protective layer as it is meant to develop a patina over time.

DUBLIN: Dublin is a thicker, denser top grain leather used for our Hawthorne Chukkas. Sometimes you will also see Dublin leather on other shoe styles in our clearance categories.

CORK: not actually leather, but a very thin fabric lined with actual cork, sometimes painted in decorative patterns. Due to its thin nature, this material is only available for Ballerine heels. Cork is not a standard option and may only be available through special limited edition releases.

REFLECTIVE RAINBOW: not actually leather, but a synthetic fabric. Night reflective for increased safety. Material is a dark gray in most daylight. In headlights or other bright lighting, material turns to a "reflective rainbow." This material is only available for custom Primal RunAmoc side stripes.

COLORADO: Colorado leather is found on our Fireside slippers and Primal Chelsea Boots. Featuring Aniline finish, this leather has a thin film that preserves the natural appearance and texture of the leather. Due to having a more "naked" finish, we recommend periodically conditioning and/or waterproofing your Primal Chelsea Boots.

Plonge is the softest and lightest leather we could find! Since it is so thin and buttery soft, plonge leather works great for our baby Buttercup moccasins and the decorative trim on our adult Ballerine flats and is only used for these two styles.

Nubuck is a top-grain bovine leather that has been sanded or buffed on the grain side, or outside, to give a slight nap of short protein fibers for a velvet-like surface. Nubuck is unique because it has the durability of a top-grain leather with a soft touch that feels similar to a suede leather. This leather is used for adult Roo moccasins, Primal Sawyers and select special edition shoes.

Our LITE leather is a thin full grain leather covered in perforation holes to give shoes extra ventilation. LITE leather is a favorite for runners in hot climates as it helps keep feet cool and dry. This leather is used for our Dash RunAmocs, Moc3 RunAmocs and/or Ballerine flats.

SuperFabric® and Torino leathers are used exclusively for Switchback boots. These materials are known for their extreme durability.

SUPERFABRIC®: an innovative new textile that is nearly indestructible. Performance is enhanced through the configuration of tiny armored plates that provide resistance to a variety of harsh elements. An environmentally friendly solvent-free curing method is used to make this material: no water or phthalates are used and no VOC's (Volatile Organic Compounds) are produced during the process. SuperFabric® is waterproof, yet breathable and is resistant to abrasions, punctures, slashes and stains.

TORINO LEATHER: this uniquely durable leather is made in the USA and pretreated with LeatherShield™ for additional waterproofing and abrasion resistance. It is also anti-bacterial and protected against light fastness.

Our cloth elastic is a non-leather (animal-free) material used for the straps of select shoes, including our child sandals and Ballerine flats that feature the optional sport closure. A small amount of elastic is also added to the buckles of our Merry Janes and Solstice Sandles to allow a little stretchy "give". This helps hold the strap secure while allowing the wearer to pull the shoe on or off without needing to unbuckle.

This wool fabric, used to make our Zen Moccasins and occasional specialty shoes, is made from 100% merino wool for exceptional softness and comfort. We used the purest and highest quality wool we could find, unlike other wool shoes that are made from blends of lesser wools and synthetics. Not only is our merino wool material made using ecologically-sustainable methods, it is also sourced from humanely-treated sheep.

While we do our best to source our shoemaking materials from within the United States, we sometimes make exceptions for materials that exceed standards for ethical fashion. Our merino wool is sourced from Germany due to its high quality of soft, durable fibers with ethical animal welfare standards and Oeko-Tex® Standard 100 certification. This certification ensures it has been tested to show it does not contain any harmful substances. The limit values for the Standard 100 go beyond international requirements to test for both regulated and non-regulated substances that may be harmful to human health.