Oliberté
{{Infobox company
| name = Oliberté
| logo = Oliblogo.png
| caption =
| type =
| foundation = {{Start date|2009}}
| founders = Tal Dehtiar
| location = Oakville, Ontario, Canada
| locations =
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Tal Dehtiar
(CEO / Founder)
| products = Shoes, bags, accessories
| industry = Retail
| homepage = [http://www.oliberte.com/ oliberte.com]
}}
Oliberté is a Canadian shoe and bag brand that founded the world's first Fair Trade
Certified factory,{{cite web|url=http://fairtradeusa.org/press-room/press-release/olibert-manufactures-world-s-first-fair-trade-certified-footwear|title=Oliberté Manufactures the World's First Fair Trade Certified™ Footwear - Fair Trade USA|publisher=}}{{cite web|last1=Baker|first1=Brandon|title=Oliberté Becomes World's First Fair Trade USA Certified Shoemaker|url=http://www.ecowatch.com/oliberte-becomes-worlds-first-fair-trade-usa-certified-shoemaker-1881813338.html|website=EcoWatch|accessdate=20 July 2016}} based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. They closed the African factory in 2019 and are now made in Canada.
History
The company was created in 2009 as a small footwear company that partnered with various factories and suppliers in Africa, until they gained enough momentum to open their own factory in 2012.{{cite web|last1=Westhead|first1=Rick|title=Oakville businessman invests In Africa's industrial revolution|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/04/14/oakville_businessman_invests_in_africas_industrial_revolution.html|website=Toronto Star|accessdate=1 June 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Dijkstra|first1=Andrea|title=World's first Fair Trade shoe factory in Ethiopia|url=http://www.your-bizbook.com/en/Club-Africa-News/worlds-first-fair-trade-shoe-factory-in-ethiopia|website=Club Africa|accessdate=20 July 2016}} They make every single pair of Oliberté shoes at this factory in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In September 2013, they also became the world's first Fair Trade Certified footwear manufacturing
factory. In March 2019 they announced the closing of their Ethiopian factory, shifting their manufacturing to Canada, sourcing hides from America and handcrafting using Vibram soles with a goodyear storm welting process. In September 2019 they released their first 'Made In Canada' boot.
Philanthropy and community programs
In the past, for every pair of shoes sold, all workers in the factory would earn a percentage of the cost,{{cite web|title=Ontario shoe company Oliberté first in world to get fair trade certification|url=http://www.metronews.ca/news/canada/2013/11/09/ontario-shoe-company-oliberte-first-in-world-to-get-fair-trade-certification.html|website=Metro News|accessdate=1 June 2016}} and when a product leaves the factory, it is considered sold. This additional income was paid directly to a special workers’ account, enabling the workers to decide collectively how to spend it. Workers could also vote to take the Fair Trade premium dollars as a cash bonus, which is often equivalent to an entire month's salary or more.{{cite web|title=OLIBERTÉ—IMPACTING SOULS THROUGH FAIR TRADE SOLES|url=http://fairtradeusa.org/blog/olibert-impacting-souls-through-fair-trade-soles|website=Fair Trade USA|accessdate=20 July 2016}}
Oliberté is a B Corporation certified company,{{cite web|url=https://www.bcorporation.net/community/oliberte-limited|title=Oliberte Limited - Bcorp Impact Report|publisher=}}{{cite web|title=Oliberte Limited|url=http://www.bthechange.com/directory/oliberte-limited/|website=B the Change|accessdate=20 July 2016}} which requires that a company achieves a minimum score for "social and environmental performance."
Oliberté is a part of the One Percent for the Planet program, which means that 1% of all proceeds are donated to green initiatives.{{cite web|url=http://onepercentfortheplanet.org/2013/09/oliberte/|title=Oliberté + 1% for the Planet : One Percent for the Planet|publisher=}}
Vertical Integration
Oliberté employs a vertical integration model in their production to ensure that rigorous quality and environmental standards are maintained, and that any involved businesses receive the full benefit from the social enterprise.
Goat and cow leather used by the factory comes directly from USA. It is certified free-range and hormone-free, and their previous tannery utilized the world's only chrome-recycling system.{{cite web|title=OLIBERTE JOINS 1% FOR THE PLANET|url=http://www.grindtv.com/culture/oliberte-joins-1-for-the-planet/#r0oXB8mJZBfSoL7C.97|website=GrindTV|accessdate=20 July 2016}}{{cite web|last1=Badore|first1=Margaret|title=Oliberté shoes are stylish, functional and fair-trade certified|url=http://www.treehugger.com/sustainable-fashion/oliberte-shoes-are-stylish-functional-and-fair-trade-certified.html|website=Treehugger|accessdate=1 June 2016}}
Their all-natural rubber was sourced from live trees found in multiple African countries such as Liberia, South Africa, Kenya and Ethiopia, depending on availability.{{cite web|title=A Good Look At The Fair Trade Certified Footwear Brand, Oliberté's Premium Collections|url=http://www.kicksonfire.com/a-good-look-at-the-fair-trade-certified-footwear-brand-olibertes-premium-collections/|website=KicksonFire|accessdate=1 June 2016}} Now they use Vibram soles in all construction.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.oliberte.com www.oliberte.com]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oliberte}}