Thousand Fell
brand rating & evaluation
overall rating:
Conscious
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (Avoid) to 5 (Top Choice). See How We Rate
The Shifting Gaia rating evaluates brands based on sustainable practices, ingredients and materials, and social responsibility, among others. Below are a few factors influencing this brand's score:
certifications:
learn more about these certifications*
overview
sustainability
non-toxic
social responsibility
7.5 out of 10
7 out of 10
6.5 out of 10
about
Thousand Fell makes sustainably minded footwear using upcycled, plant-based, and recyclable materials.
highlights
Innovative and sustainable materials
Vegan alternatives
Upcycled materials
sustainability
score:
7.5 out of 10
details:
Packaging
The brand avoids single-use plastics in its packaging, instead using recyclable, FSC-certified cardboard shoeboxes and shipping materials.
Material Sustainability
The upper “vegan bio-leather” is made from a blend of recycled PET plastic (from water bottles) and corn food waste resins, reducing reliance on virgin petroleum-based leather alternatives. For the outsoles, Thousand Fell uses natural rubber tapped from the Amazon (Brazil) instead of synthetic rubbers. The midsole and cushioning incorporate bio-based foam derived from soybean oil, replacing a portion of fossil-fuel-derived foam with a renewable plant source. Structural components (such as reinforcements and insoles) are made with agricultural waste fibers like coconut husk, sugarcane bagasse, and palm leaf fiber in place of traditional plastics. Even the laces are 100% recycled PET polyester.
One area for improvement is the transparency of material certifications. While the brand is affiliated with the Textile Exchange (implying use of standards like GRS for recycled content), it does not publicly list specific third-party certifications for its materials.
Energy Use and Footprint
The company participates in carbon and water offsetting projects to counterbalance its emissions and resource use. Additionally, the brand has piloted greener distribution methods: in its primary market of New York City, Thousand Fell uses local micro-warehouses and even bicycle couriers for deliveries, curbing last-mile shipping emissions.
However, Thousand Fell does not yet disclose detailed data on its energy usage or greenhouse gas emissions, nor has it published explicit reduction targets.
Waste Management
The brand was founded on a zero-waste, closed-loop concept, aiming to keep sneakers out of landfills. To that end, Thousand Fell operates a robust take-back and recycling program for all its products. To incentivize participation, Thousand Fell built a recycling credit directly into its business model. Each pair of shoes comes with a $20 deposit (included in the price) that the customer can redeem when they send the shoes back for recycling.
While there’s little data on factory waste or scrap reduction, the brand’s focus on small-batch production and timeless design implies they aren’t overproducing large volumes only to discard unsold inventory (unsold pairs are sold via an “Archive Sale” rather than destroyed).
Business Model
Thousand Fell’s business model is built around mindful consumption and circular economy principles, rather than fast-fashion turnover. Importantly, Thousand Fell avoids the trap of constant new product drops. They offer a core, evergreen collection of classic sneaker styles that remain available season after season, with only very limited new releases or color updates.
non-toxic
score:
7 out of 10
details:
Because the shoes are 100% vegan, they inherently avoid toxins associated with animal products (for example, there’s no chrome-tanned leather, so no heavy metal contamination, and no animal-based glues, which can sometimes contain formaldehyde).
social responsibility
score:
6.5 out of 10
details:
On the positive side, the brand openly discloses that its shoes are manufactured in Brazil. Still, no formal Supplier Code of Conduct or audit results are published. There’s no evidence the company has a robust labor standards policy covering issues like child labor, forced labor, working hours, and safe conditions. Brazil, while not the worst, is considered a medium-to-high risk country for labor rights in apparel manufacturing
Thousand fell is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, certified by PETA.
Thousand Fell frequently partners with platforms, media, and other brands to spread awareness about sustainable fashion. In terms of direct community impact, Thousand Fell’s partnership with Soles4Souls is particularly impactful. Soles4Souls is a nonprofit that distributes shoes to people in need around the world.
