The Woo-Lace

The Woo-Lace concept is simple: reduce our footprint, one shoelace at a time.  

Over 20 million shoes end up in landfill each year (Tearfund NZ | Footwear: An Industry Laced With Exploitation, n.d.). Many of these shoes will have laces, which are often made from polyester, derived from fossil fuels, and some shoes will have used multiple laces in their lifecycle. 

Laces are often overlooked in the design or use of a shoe but can completely change the aesthetic and feel of the experience. The Woo-Lace redefines the way we look at shoelaces, highlighting sustainability, durability, quality, and aesthetics in a staple component of footwear., that represents sustainability, durability, quality, and aesthetics. Woo-Lace is more than just a shoelace – it is a statement of values. 

The Woo-Lace is crafted using New Zealand Strong Wool. Strong Wool is naturally durable, odor resistant and biodegrades in a domestic environment, Unlike the smooth finish of synthetic laces, wool’s scaly fibers create a lace that binds together and does not become untied. Sustainably produced using local materials, the laces are naturally dyed using produce such as onion skins, coffee grounds and avocado skins; items that are often considered waste. The natural dyeing process means no two laces are the same, celebrating the beauty of imperfections and the diversity of nature. Experimentation with aglets has moved through phases of natural fiber binding, metal that can be removed and recycled through to a bio plastic to create a completely biodegradable shoelace. 

The Woo-Lace is manufactured using digital knitting. While the design mimics the essence of the traditional shoelace, digital knitting allows for manipulation of stitch structure to create laces with varying forms that change the strength, stretch, feel and aesthetic of the laces. The Woo-lace is currently available in two styles. The everyday laces a flat wide lace that has a loose stitch structure, allowing for more stretching for comfort and experience. The sports lace has a tubular skinnier lace which has a tighter stitch structure. It allows for less stretching than the everyday lace to keep you tied in for more movement. 

Both laces introduce a small but significant innovation—the ‘Easy Tab.’ This thicker section in the middle of the lace makes it easy to find the middle when relacing a shoe, a small detail that enhances the user experience. Focusing on these thoughtful details, creates a product that is both intuitive and enjoyable to use.  

The Woo-Lace is both a statement of sustainability and attention to detail. It proves that changing something small can make a difference. Whether that be upgrading the aesthetics of your shoe by switching to a better-quality lace, to supporting the rise of a New Zealand material and standing with sustainable choices. By choosing Woo-Lace, users join the goal of striving for a better world, one step at a time. A story of innovation, commitment to the environment, and the belief that we can all contribute to a positive change; even with something as simple as a shoelace. 

Tearfund NZ | Footwear: an industry laced with exploitation. (n.d.). https://www.tearfund.org.nz/Footwear-An-Industry-Laced-With-Exploitation#:~:text=An%20estimated%2022%20billion%20pairs,shoes%20than%20we%20can%20buy.