![Omar Camara is the founder of the ethical and vegan shoe brand [ COG ]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0310/6586/6284/files/createur_engage_de_chaussures_veganes_COG_480x480.jpg?v=1683882338)
Omar Camara is the founder of the ethical and vegan shoe brand [ COG ]
Year founded: 2019
Design and office location: France 🇫🇷
Raw material sourcing locations: Italy 🇮🇹, Spain 🇪🇸, Portugal 🇵🇹
Manufacturing and production location: Near Porto, Portugal 🇵🇹
Meet the founder
A passionate animal rights advocate, Omar Camara first considered launching his vegan shoe brand in 2018. Given the scarcity of such products on the market, this Lyon-based entrepreneur decided to put his graphic design skills to use to create trendy and ethical designs. In November 2019, after a full year of sketching, reaching out to suppliers, and prototyping in a family-run workshop in Portugal, his COG brand was born. That same year, he launched his first collection, "Éclosion", in tribute to nature and the animal kingdom. "At COG, beyond offering stylish designs, our brand is driven by a desire to show respect for living beings in all their forms."
About the brand
COG is a French brand of ethical, vegan, and recycled shoes for men and women. The designs are created with respect for living beings and the planet in workshops in Portugal, where every artisan works in good conditions and receives fair pay.
Eco-responsible impact
For COG, "the value of an object does not lie in its rarity, but in the ethical consideration given to its production". The brand aims to offer more responsible fashion that respects living beings by providing eco-responsible shoes.
Brand values
The shoes are made from plant-based materials (grape marc, cork) and recycled materials (plastic waste collected from the Mediterranean, PET, rubber).
COG packaging is made from 100% recycled kraft paper and is recyclable. The ink used to print the text and logos is water-based, making it harmless to nature.
COG works with Portuguese family-run production houses, renowned for their expertise in footwear manufacturing.
The people COG works with each have a predefined task: cutting materials, assembling the different parts of the shoe, sewing, gluing the sole, etc.
Every artisan is treated as an individual, works in good conditions, and is paid fairly.
COG works with European suppliers close to France to limit its carbon emissions. Suppliers are Italian, Spanish, and Portuguese. All designs are produced near Porto, Portugal.
All collections are vegan and PETA APPROVED VEGAN certified. No animal materials are used in the production of the shoes. From the upper to the sole, including the glue, everything is 100% cruelty-free.
Since late 2022, COG has launched several sneaker and dress shoe models made from grape marc. The soles of all sneakers are made from recycled cork.
Since its launch, COG has donated a portion of its profits to animal welfare organizations such as Le Refuge de l'Arche de Noé, Elephant Haven, Association Futur, etc.
The shoes are PETA certified: all collections are 100% vegan. The brand also uses OEKO-TEX 100 certified materials to ensure that the components used are non-toxic, thereby protecting the health of workers, consumers, and the environment.
[ COG is a French brand of ethical, vegan, and recycled sneakers and shoes for women and men. ]
