Nomadic State of Mind is a Fully Vegan Brand

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Brand Overview

Based in Fayetteville, NC, USA, Nomadic State of Mind makes rope sandals primarily using partly reclaimed polypropylene cord. Their sandals are mostly made by artisans in a small, out-of-work coffee farm in Nicaragua, and they distribute internationally. The brand's main approaches to sustainability involve using high-quality, durable materials, and not using excessive and wasteful packaging.

About Nomadic State of Mind Vegan Rope Sandals

"Fortunately over the past few years, as we have expanded, the rope scrap program has become a small little industry of its own, and we get to use up almost all of our scraps, only the little tiny ones escape (but I do have some ideas for those in the future). We developed the No Scraps Left Behind program to make people aware of the amount of waste that manufacturing can create." - Nomadic State of Mind team

What materials are used to make Nomadic State of Mind sandals?

Most of the sandals made by Nomadic State of Mind are made with rope - partially reclaimed polypropylene cord. They make models that use other materials, including hemp, up-cycled sails from boats, recycled webbing, eva, and Vibram (rubber).

Are their sandals eco-friendly/sustainable?

From an environmentally-friendly materials standpoint, most of Nomadic State of Mind's sandals are at least somewhat eco-friendly, as they do incorporate some natural and/or recycled materials into their designs (such as hemp and recycled plastic). They also focus on the durability of their products, which is a key factor in sustainability. However, some of their models also use virgin synthetic materials, such as synthetic rubber. Nomadic State of Mind does not currently use any tools or programs that can quantify and share the eco-friendliness of their products, other than sharing vague breakdowns of the materials used in each shoe. And while the virgin man-made synthetics they use in other models are generally considered worse for the environment than recycled synthetics, or natural materials, those virgin synthetic materials are still considered to be more environmentally friendly than animal-derived leathers. This is backed up by data from inside the fashion industry as well as outside of it. For the data, please see Collective Fashion Justice’s CIRCUMFAUNA initiative. The brand also has a “No Scraps Left Behind” program, wherein rope waste is turned into art. The brand developed the program to make people aware of the amount of waste that manufacturing can create.

Does production of their sandals create a lot of CO2 emissions?

From a carbon footprint standpoint, it's difficult to asses the impact that Nomadic State of Mind has, and what they do to remediate it. The brand does not currently provide data as to their environmental impact or remediation efforts, so it's difficult to accurately asses them in these areas.

Do they use eco-friendly packaging?

Yes! According to the brand, "Excessive packaging is just worthless. When you receive your sandals they are in a USPS mailbag and tied together with a string. There is no “shoebox”, which we feel is a waste of both money and cardboard. We have a sizing/info tag attached to the sandal. That’s about it. We do what we have to appease our shipping needs and requirements by shipping agencies and nothing more. If you order a bunch of sandals they might come in any kind of box we can find to use, so if it looks like your box has been around the world a few times or homemade - it might just be."

Does Nomadic State of Mind use 'green shipping' methods?

According to the brand, "Stuff has to go around the world, we try to do that in the least harmful way possible. This year we introduced biodegradable mailers."

Are their sandals recyclable?

It’s unclear from the information available on their website if Nomadic State of Minds’s sandals are recyclable or compostable. We’ve asked for clarification from their team, and are currently awaiting reply.

How should I dispose of my worn out Nomadic State of Mind sandals?

Get it Vegan recommends either trying to have them repaired, donating them to someone in need, or taking them to a clothing recycling depot (if available in your city), which can strip them down to their recyclable components.

Where can I buy their sandals?

Nomadic State of Mind sandals can be purchased from their website, as well as from Amazon, and can be shipped worldwide. Their sandals can also be purchased from worldwide distributors, a list of which can be found here, as well as from like-minded retailers worldwide (who can be find by visiting the websites of the worldwide distributors).

Do their sandals ever go on sale?

Yes - there’s a “Deals” section of their website, and we noticed sales of up to 60% off when we visited. They also have a deal where you can save 10% on orders over 100$, by using coupon: 10for100 (US orders only).

Where are Nomadic State of Mind sandals made?

Some of their sandals are handmade in the countryside of Nicaragua, where the brand claims to have been working with artisans from the same community for over 20 years. Their models with soles are made in the United States using vintage sandal making equipment.

Are their sandals made with fair labour?

According to Nomadic State of Mind, they work with artisans out of a small, out-of-work coffee farm in Nicaragua, and that "buying a pair of handmade rope sandals or rope art directly affects the betterment of people in the local community." Some of their sandals are also made in the United States. It seems as though they are made with fair labour in our assessment (based on this information), although it's difficult for us as an outside, non-certifying 3rd party to verify whether or not they are adhering to international and local labour laws, regulations and fair working standards to provide a safe and fair working environment for their workers in Nicaragua (where working conditions in general are considered to be dubious).

Does Nomadic State of Mind promote ‘slow fashion’ or a ‘circular economy’?

Nomadic State of Mind incorporates some elements of a circular economy, such as: incorporating recycled and natural materials into their sandals; making timeless styles; making their products by hand; using eco-friendly packaging; and employing artisanal labour. Where the brand might lose some points is in using Vibram (synthetic rubber) for their soles - although they do claim that it's quite durable, which is a key component of sustainability.

Is Nomadic State of Mind a charitable company?

We’ve asked the Nomadic State of Mind team about any charitable initiatives they're involved with (if any), and they told us that, "Yes, or course, our first is our mission to our employees, jobs and building homes. We work with many animal rescue and rights non profits, that both protect animals and give animals a voice. We also occasionally make custom sandals that benefit an NGO, or recently people in Ukraine."

Nomadic State Of Mind Product Range

Nomadic State of Mind makes rope/cord sandals for men, women, & children. They come mainly in camel/light brown, but are also offered in a variety of colours (even black-soled with blue straps), and are offered at a mid-range price point. Their sandals come in many different varieties. The brand also make custom sandals.