If the first uses for cork that come to your mind are wine stoppers and bulletin boards, you won’t be thinking that way for much longer. This material is a force to be reckoned with, especially in the footwear industry. Cork shoes are the future: this is why.
Cork shoes are made of renewable oak bark that is considered carbon-negative as it absorbs environmental carbon dioxide. Cork also absorbs heat, sound, and physical impact, while being water-repellent and anti-microbial. These qualities make cork a safe, healthy, and comfortable shoe material.
Like you, I didn’t always know that cork was such an incredible and diverse material that is under-utilized. I’ll take you through my journey of realizing cork’s potential by giving you some backstory, sharing the impressive qualities of cork, and why this textile makes such a great footwear material.
A Little Backstory
A few years ago, I spent 3 months in Lisbon, Portugal, and noticed something about the accessories for sale: many were made out of cork. From hats to bags and wallets to caps, I saw all kinds of fashionable cork stylings. These weren’t just one-off encounters – cork was everywhere.
One product that stuck out to me in Portugal were cork shoes. I always thought this was some kind of novelty item, but then the company Mukishoes launched barefoot shoes made of cork. I realized that there must be some real substance behind this. It got me thinking: is cork the future?
Mukishoes: The Barefoot Cork Shoes
Mukishoes is a crowdfunded, women-owned brand of barefoot shoes made using sustainable materials. Their products are handmade in local facilities using a combination of traditional and modern methods. This company is dedicated to preserving the art that is shoemaking and ensuring their team works in fair, safe conditions.
Mukishoes offers a wide spectrum of shoe styles featuring natural animal fibers such as leather and wool, plus a variety of plant-based options, including cotton, hemp, and, of course, cork.
That’s what makes Mukishoes stand out to me as an innovative brand: they combine the benefits of barefoot shoes with the advantages of cork. It amazes me that they’re one of the only companies to be doing this right now.
Mukishoes sources many of its materials directly from Portugal, meaning they’re doing their part to support the beneficial cork forests there we are slowly losing.
Another thing that separates Mukishoes from other sustainable or barefoot shoe brands out there is that they don’t look out of place. Instead, they have their own unique style, which I find to be warm and colorful. These shoes drew me in from the beginning, and I can’t help but imagine that they affect others as well.
Styles range from vibrant streetwear style skater shoes to classic Chelsea boots (which you can see pictured here), making Mukishoes are the perfect complement to any outfit, for any occasion. In fact, Mukishoes even sells Chelsea boots made entirely of cork, which you can see on our site.
Their shoe styles can be dressed up or down, but either way, you can feel good about what you’re wearing. Comfort, aesthetics, sustainability, and social responsibility are driving factors of Mukishoes, so you can’t go wrong in giving them a try.
Why Choose Cork?
Most people’s encounters with cork can be summarized pretty simply: wine bottle stoppers. However, it has a broad spectrum of uses and unique properties that make it the new up-and-coming sustainable material – but it’s not actually new at all.
A History of Cork
While it might just be picking up traction now, cork is not a new material. It has actually been used for more than 5000 years. In fact, cork sandals date way back to ancient Greece. These shoes were made up of cork sole with leather straps attached, but more on that later.
People have used cork for more than just apparel, though. Around 3000 BC, people in Egypt, Babylon, Persia, and China used this material to make floating fishing equipment and seal containers.
Citizens even took advantage of cork’s insulation properties by building houses with it, keeping the place cool in the hotter summer months and warm during the colder winters.
Plus, cork flooring was pest-resistant and provided a comfortable amount of “give.” In fact, cork flooring is still widely used today. You can purchase cork underlay and tiling of your own at stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s.
Cork Is Sustainably Sourced but Needs Saving
You’d never guess that cork comes from a tree as it doesn’t feel or look like most woods we’re familiar with, but it does! However, the process of harvesting cork is very different from most other forested materials.
Cork comes from a particular oak tree species, the Quercus suber, commonly referred to as “cork oak,” but it isn’t actually wood. Rather, this material is sourced from the thick bark of cork oak trees.
Since cork is harvested from living oak trees, forests don’t have to be clear cut to extract the material. Instead, cork regenerates and can be harvested every nine to ten years. This makes cork a very sustainable material.
Even better, cork is considered carbon negative as it draws CO2 out of the atmosphere. In a time so vital for the pressing climate crisis, a material this sustainable could be our saving grace.
Portugal has a high concentration of cork forests and produces a large portion of the world’s cork, so it makes sense why I saw so many people sporting apparel made of this material when I stayed in Lisbon. In fact, many cork items are made from residuals of cork stopper production. The leftover material is finely ground up, and binders are mixed in to keep it all together.
The problem is that the wine bottle industry keeps these forests going. Many companies are switching to non-cork (read: plastic and aluminum) stoppers, which endangers the future of the cork industry and these forests.
Since there is less demand for cork stoppers, some of these forests are getting cut down to grow more financially viable crops. Finding other ways to commercially use this sustainable material may just save Portuguese cork oak forests.
Unique Qualities of Cork
Cork is an impressive material that is unlike most other sustainable, natural textiles. Here are some qualities that make cork stand out to me:
- Cork is resistant to pests, mold, and mildew while being anti-microbial. These properties make cork a safe and healthy material with many practical uses. Cork can be a very beneficial component in food storage, exercise equipment and accessories, and home construction. This also makes for increased longevity.
- The low density and lightweight of cork allows it to float. The first life jacket designed was actually made of cork. Flotation is a unique and desirable quality – whether used for safety, convenience, or novelty use. The lightweight nature of cork also reduces transportation costs and energy use.
- Cork is naturally cushiony, making it comfortable to step on. The “giving” texture of cork makes it a great material for shoes, flooring, and many other accessories. This is a huge plus because it reduces energy impact, which makes for a more comfortable experience. It can also be beneficial in preventing or reducing further joint pain, especially on the knees.
- The cellular structure of cork makes it essentially fire-resistant. Cork is made up of tiny, densely packed particles. Because of this, cork has high thermal stability – up to 200°C (392°F) – before it begins to degrade. Cork insulation undergoes a process making it stable up to 300°C (572°F).
- Cork absorbs heat and sound. Like cork reduces energy impact, it has a similar effect on heat and sound. The material is also known to absorb both of these, making cork a great heat insulator and a helpful noise-reducing material. In fact, when it comes to the heat absorption qualities of natural materials, cork is second only to wool.
Is Cork Already In Your Shoes?
Like I mentioned earlier, cork shoes are nothing new. Still, few of us own shoes entirely made of cork. What would you think if I said that this sustainable material might already be in your kicks?
Cork’s durability, lightweight insulation, and cushioning abilities make it a perfect material for shoe soles. Plus, cork actually molds to your foot’s shape over time. Think of it like natural memory foam, but for your feet! All of these components can increase the overall comfort and longevity of your shoes.
If you own a pair of Birkenstocks, you already have cork shoes in your closet. The soles of these kicks are made up of a blend of cork and latex. The ergonomic design of these shoes, coupled with the presence of cork, makes them incredibly foot-friendly.
Cork insoles are also on the market these days. If you have experienced shoe or foot-related pain, you may have even tried these orthopedic inserts in hopes of finding some relief.
You can purchase a pair of Sole Performance Thin Cork Shoe Insoles before committing to an entirely new set of shoes. These insoles are made of recycled wine stoppers and make a great addition to hiking or running shoes.
Are Cork Shoes Good for Your Feet?
Cork is praised for its shock absorbent qualities, but barefoot shoes don’t actually need this. While at first it may seem harmful to engage in activities like running barefoot, experienced barefoot enthusiasts know that doing this encourages the foot to properly absorb shock by itself.
However, cork is great at absorbing heat as well. This helps to keep your feet cool in the summer and warm in the winter. This material’s antimicrobial nature also keeps potentially harmful bacteria and fungi at bay.
Another perk of cork soles is that they adapt to the shape of your feet after time. They gradually develop and mold into your perfect fit!
What Are Barefoot Shoes?
Barefoot shoes may sound a little (or a lot) contradictory, but they are exactly what they sound like: shoes that make you feel as though you’re walking barefoot.
The idea behind barefoot shoes comes from the philosophy that our feet are our foundations. They quite literally ground us. Any issues that occur from the bottom of our bodies will eventually move their way up and cause trouble elsewhere.
Standard shoes block our feet’s ability to interact with the ground, which leads to our bodies and brains improperly responding to our environments. Shoes, especially tight or uncomfortable ones, confine our feet and restrict our natural movements.
The secure feelings that come with wearing a supportive shoe can actually be very misleading. Shoes that fit too tightly can have adverse effects on our feet, such as losing muscle structure or developing bunions.
Of course, it’s out of most of our comfort zones (and goes against our safety instincts) to walk around without shoes on at all. Instead, barefoot shoes allow our feet to move more naturally but still maintain a standard shoe’s practicality.
Barefoot shoes are wider, so we don’t have to worry about squishing our feet or limiting our toes’ movement. The soles of these shoes are also thinner, so we can engage our bodies’ natural responses to the ground and interact with the environment around us.
All this is to say that the “support” we think we are getting from standard shoes may not be the case at all. Rather, barefoot shoes activate components of our feet that we aren’t typically used to. Whether you try these alternatives out just on occasion or rep them every day, I think it’s beneficial to give barefoot shoes a try.
Other Cork Shoes on the Market
I think that Mukishoes hold their ground in the barefoot niche of the shoe market, but there are other “regular” footwear companies experimenting with cork as well. Here are some brands that I find noteworthy.
Birkenstock
Some companies took a while to hop on the cork train, but not Birkenstock. I’d say that this German sandal company played a big role in popularizing cork shoes today. The company took a page out of Ancient Greece’s books, mixing a cork sole with leather straps.
These days, chances are you know someone who owns a pair of Birks – or maybe you own some yourself.
Sole
Sole is another big company in the world of cork shoes. This company advertises the potential pain-relief effects you may experience from wearing their product, such as a decrease in plantar fasciitis, pronation, back pain, and many other complications.
Sole partners with medical professionals to study the health and performance benefits of wearing insoles. They found that their custom footbeds reduced plantar fasciitis-related strain by up to one third.
On top of that, Sole primarily uses recycled wine corks to manufacture their products. Sole has now proudly claimed the title of being carbon negative.
How to Care for Cork Shoes
If you’re worried that cork shoes require some extensive maintenance that you’ll never be able to keep up with, don’t be. Cork shoes thrive on minimal care. The material is naturally durable and can handle just about anything, so caring for cork is a breeze!
How Long Do Cork Shoes Last?
Cork is a durable, long-lasting material commonly compared to leather. It’s known to be resistant to many unwanted visitors like insects, mites, and mold, plus it’s also anti-microbial, water-repellent, fire-retardant, stain-resistant, and scratch-proof. Knowing this, I wouldn’t worry about your cork shoes wearing out any time soon.
How Well Do Cork Shoes Handle Water?
If you think back to the beginning of this piece, I mentioned that our most common interactions with cork also involve wine. Remember how cork was also the material of choice for the first lifejackets? If we know this, we already know that cork handles water well!
Cork is naturally water repellent, so you can walk through puddles and splash around in the rain without worrying about destroying your shoes. They’re essentially rain boots but much more fashionable and way more sustainable than many synthetic alternatives out there.
Another plus of cork shoes is that they’re naturally lightweight and buoyant – this means they float! If you ever accidentally drop a shoe in a lake or stream, you’ll easily be able to find it again. Plus, you don’t have to worry about any water damage this may have caused. You’re in the clear.
Can You Clean Cork Shoes and How Do You Do It?
No one’s shoes can possibly stay clean forever – myself included. Of course, our shoes get dirty and need a pick-me-up now and then. Don’t worry; cork shoes are totally cleanable.
The best way to clean cork shoes is to simply spot-treat them. It’s as simple as using a damp cloth to wipe away any dirt or marks. An important thing to know about cork shoe care is that, though they may be durable, they are not washing machine-safe.
Do Cork Shoes Need Specific Treatment?
You don’t need to take any extensive measures when caring for your cork shoes. Mukishoes recommends waxing the stitches to keep your feet completely free of water. Similarly, Birkenstock suggests applying cork sealer to the exposed edges of the shoes if the material appears to be drying out, but that’s all there is to it.
Final Thoughts
Cork is a unique and important material that does not get the appreciation it deserves. This regenerative oak bark removes carbon from the atmosphere while being fire-retardant, water-proof, and sound-reducing. Notably, cork is also shock-absorbent and anti-microbial.
All of these qualities make cork the shoe industry’s unsung hero. Now, companies like Mukishoes, Birkenstock, and Sole are finally giving this material the recognition it deserves – and you should, too.