Astral Footwear’s Hemp Kicks Set High Standards

December 6, 2016

Asheville, NC – Continuing to push the boundaries in footwear design, Astral strengthens its commitment to the environment by bringing Cannabis Sativa, commonly known as hemp, to its 2017 performance footwear collection. Rarely seen in the outdoor performance footwear realm, Astral is setting a new environmental precedent in the industry with its collection of high-performance hemp kicks. These eco-friendly shoes built for lifestylin’ will appeal to the urbanite, weekend warrior and nature lover.

VP of Sales & Marketing Christie Dobson talks about Astral’s love affair with this natural fiber. “Hemp was an easy choice for us, not only for its performance benefits – it’s durable, antimicrobial, and breathable – but also for its environmental attributes. It’s petroleum-free and grown without pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers.”

Founder and CEO Philip Curry’s experience in biodynamic farming and commitment to reducing the brand’s ecological footprint was instrumental in the development of new hemp versions of Astral’s original all-season shoes, the Donner (for men) and Tinker (for women). Debuting in Fall ’17, the Hemp Donner and Tinker will be the highest performing, environmentally sound, vegan lifestyle shoes to hit the outdoor market. The use of hemp makes Astral footwear even more durable than cotton, with better abrasion, tensile, tear and UV resistance. Naturally antimicrobial, hemp refuses to let shoes rot or stink. This dynamic fiber is highly breathable, totally washable and gets even better with age.

The Hemp Donner and Tinker are designed for light hikes and kicking it around town. Built off the brand’s best-selling style, the Brewer, the Hemp Donner and Tinker are equipped with Astral’s high friction, non-marking G®Rubber Agro soles. The uppers are 77% industrial hemp and 23% recycled polyester, while the G®Rubber outsoles consist of 80% natural and 20% synthetic rubber. These shoes embody Astral’s commitment to nature, while still upholding their high standards for performance casual footwear.

“At Astral, we put Nature first – whether it’s bailing on work for a powder day or using more sustainable, environmentally friendly materials and processes – we believe Mother Nature is worth it,” Dobson says.

The Hemp Donner and Tinker will hit retail shelves Fall 2017 with MSRP $100. Get a sneak peek at the upcoming Winter Outdoor Retailer in Salt Lake City, Utah at Astral’s booth #35077. For more information, contact Julie Bacon at jbacon@darbycommunications.com.

About Astral
Established in 2002, Astral has grown to specialize in high performance footwear alongside its industry-leading safety gear for paddlers. Independently owned and operated with a sincere commitment to making products of the highest performance and style for use in Nature.  Astral is based in the year-round outdoor wonderland of Asheville, NC and has satellite offices in Truckee, Saigon, Ketchum and Nottingham.

For more information about Astral, see astraldesigns.com.