SUSTAINABILITY

Craftsmanship & Design Philosophy

The Philosophy behind

In response to growing urban existence, Terhi Pölkki emphasizes craftsmanship, timeless design, and material traceability in her work.

The core of our approach arises from longevity. To achieve that, we focus on footwear where classic design and long-lasting materials meet.

THE DESIGN PROCESS

Terhi Pölkki Design Studio is based in Helsinki, Finland. Terhi chooses to refine existing silhouettes rather than constantly producing new seasonal items. Terhi’s approach focuses on refined craft, durability, and practical design.

Her frequent visits to the factory allow direct oversight of handpicked materials, fitting, and construction quality for our customers.

Terhi's Shoe Design Process

Design aesthetic and seasonal colors
Fitting, lasts, and comfort
Sourcing high-quality, traceable materials

Terhi's design philosophy starts with practical functionality. Using footwear over an extended period directly reduces total consumption. Shoes must look refined and feel comfortable to ensure daily use.

We maintain daily communication with the factory owner and craftspeople, building a close working relationship throughout the manufacturing process.

Made in Europe

All our shoes are manufactured in experienced European factories operating under EU labor legislation to ensure proper working conditions and fair wages.

Portugal

Our leather footwear is manufactured in a family-owned factory in São João da Madeira, Portugal, near Porto. We have maintained a direct partnership with this factory since 2011.

Terhi works directly with local factories without agents or middlemen to maintain complete transparency.

Portugal was selected for its shoe-making heritage and specialized craftsmanship. The factory utilizes locally sourced components and leathers to minimize transportation distances and delivery risks.

Upper Materials: Our main leather supplier is located in Alcanena, Portugal, supplying vegetable-tanned "OakLeather" and wet white tanned leather from Ovar, Portugal.
Soles: All rubber soles are produced by a supplier located 15 minutes from the shoe factory in Oliveira de Azeméis. Both partners have worked with the brand since 2011.
EU Compliance: All materials and raw inputs comply with EU chemical and safety legislation.

Rain Boots Our rain boots are produced in Partizánske, Slovakia, in a facility established in 1939.

Construction: The Anton rain boot is made from 100% natural rubber. The boots undergo a vulcanization process in a tank for one hour at 140°C, followed by manual finishing by trained craftspeople.
Material Cycle: The production process utilizes natural rubber resources, and leftover raw material is re-introduced directly into the manufacturing cycle.
Certifications: Our contract manufacturer holds EN ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and EN ISO 14001 (Environmental Management) certifications.

THE MATERIALS

All raw materials are manufactured in Europe: 85% in Portugal and Germany, and 15% in Italy. At least 75% of our raw materials consist of organic, recycled, or vegetable-tanned inputs.

Leather Origin: Our main material is a cow leather by-product of the European meat industry, sourced entirely from Portugal or Spain.
Tanneries & Locations:
- Vegetable-tanned leather: Sourced from Alcanena & São Vicente Pereira, Portugal.
- Weatherproof Suede: Sourced from the Oehler tannery in Marbach, Germany (water-repellent suede designed for Northern weather conditions).
Textiles & Alternative Soles:
- Organic Cotton Canvas: Sourced from Prato, Italy.
- Recycled Wool Felt (rewool): Sourced from Montemurlo, Italy.
- Composite Soles: Produced in Santa Maria da Feira, Portugal, using 30% coffee beans and 70% natural rubber.
- Wool: All merino wool used is certified mulesing-free.

Material Breakdown

Uppers:

Wet white tanned leather: 80%
Suede: 4%
Organic Cotton: 9%
Merino Wool: 3%
Recycled Wool Felt (Rewool): 4%

Outsoles:

Natural crepe Rubber (re-circulated leftovers): 20%
Leather: 28%
Wood: 24%
Natural Rubber: 20%
Coffee beans: 3%
Other: 5%

Tannery Process & Standards

We partner with two leather tanneries in Portugal: Carvalhos and Curtumes Aveneda.

Carvalhos Tannery (Alcanena) – OakLeather:
- Uses fresh Iberian hides kept in cold storage without chemical preserving agents.
- Utilizes a chrome-free and heavy metal-free tanning process (wet-white tanning) using natural plant tannins, such as tree bark.
- Employs metal-free dyes and water-based finishes compliant with Chrome-Free and Metal-Free certification parameters.
Curtumes Aveneda Tannery (São Vicente Pereira) – Biocouro:
- Produces wet-white metal-free leather (Biocouro) specifically formulated for footwear lining.
- Tested according to ISO 20200:2004 (disintegration under simulated composting conditions), achieving 100% disintegration in under 15 days.

CRAFTSMANSHIP & TRANSPARENCY

All leather footwear is handmade in Portugal by skilled artisans.

Factory Oversight: Small-scale production with approximately 20 employees. 90% of the workforce has remained consistent over the past decade.
Employment Standards: Operations strictly adhere to Portuguese labor laws and EU human rights standards.

Meet Carla and Jorge

Carla works at the stitching section in the factory. Jorge lasts the uppers and attaches the outsoles. They both have been working for the brand several years now.

LONG – TERM COOPERATION

Factory partnership and visits

Terhi has worked with numerous shoe factories in her career but once she chose the current partner for her brand she first visited Portugal in 2011 to meet the owner and to check the working conditions of the employees. The most important thing was to find the best manufacturer for women's leather shoe category and to ensure the high quality of craftsmanship. The key factor was also to ensure the high standard of skills to implement Terhi's vision and designs to actual products.

The manufactory for our leather shoes is the same family-owned factory she started working with in 2011.

It is a small factory with about 20 employees. 90% of the workers stayed the same during the past 10 years. They are working under good conditions and Portugal’s legislation guarantees human rights and proper wages based on EU legislation.

The cooperation with the rain boot factory started in 2019. The Slovakian manufacturer has EN ISO 9001 quality management certification and 14001 environmental management certification. Environmental issues were an important factor when expanding our product category.

Over the years Terhi has built a special relationship with the manufacturers. She also works directly with them without agents to keep open conversation and transparency in her manufacture process.

Terhi visits the factories regularly ensuring high quality of products and working conditions to ensure a transparency and good working conditions in our manufactories.

Quality control

Terhi is going twice a year to Portugal to the factory to check the working conditions and stay in a good and close relationship with the factory.

AVOIDANCE OF OVERPRODUCTION

Made-to-Order: Materials are ordered based on precise usage, and production runs are made-to-order to prevent excess inventory.
Reusable Shoe Lasts: We design classics around tested, comfortable lasts and soles to allow multi-season reuse.
Zero-Waste Rubber: Rubber scrap and leftover material from outsole production are collected and re-processed into new soles.

PACKAGING, SHIPPING & ENERGY

Packaging & Returns Policy

Plastic-Free Packaging: Shoes are packed in 100% recyclable cardboard boxes and wrapped in silk tissue paper.
Local Sourcing: Shoe boxes are manufactured 100 meters from our shoe factory in São João da Madeira, reducing transport distance.
Store & E-commerce: In-store purchases use recyclable FSC®-certified paper bags (Forest Stewardship Council). Online orders are shipped in 100% recyclable craft paper bags sealed with paper tape.
Return Minimization: We provide precise sizing and fit information prior to purchase to minimize transport emissions associated with returns. A 14-day return policy is provided.

Logistics & Energy

Delivery Options: Online deliveries utilize low-emission transport services including Posti Green and DHL Express GoGreen.
Renewable Energy: 62% of electricity consumed across our facilities is generated from renewable sources, including wind and solar power.