Serial entrepreneur Bernardo Duque Carreira returned to his home country of Portugal in 2017 to start a new venture, unsure of what that project would be. One night, after a few beers and joints with friends, someone threw out the idea of making a shoe for smoking. Duque Carreira formed the seemingly silly suggestion into a reality, endeavoring to create the world’s first waterproof hemp shoe. Thanks to the help of his grandmother, Otilia, who has more than 50 years of experience working with textiles, 8000 Kicks was born.
Now, the brand is beloved for its collection of hemp backpacks and ultra-sustainable sneakers. So beloved, in fact, that when 8000 Kicks announced it would launch a new travel/hiking shoe, it blew its Kickstarter goal out of the water. The Trekker sneaker features a durable and breathable hemp fabric upper, waterproof protection, anti-slip grip, and a convenient step-in design.
On February 18, the brand launched a Kickstarter campaign that allowed backers to support by pre-ordering the sneaker at 40% off. In just a few days, the campaign exceeded its $12,000 goal by more than 10 times over.
Duque Carreira is all-in on Hemp, thanks to its breathable and antimicrobial qualities and low carbon footprint. “Our purpose is to revive hemp by demonstrating that hemp products surpass those made from alternative fibers,” he offers. “This represents the environmentally conscious solution we’ve all been anticipating.”
High Times: 8000 Kicks Trekker Specs
The outdoor sneakers are now available for pre-order on Kickstarter, with an expected delivery date in July. The travel sneaker features a durable and waterproof hemp upper, “world’s first” hemp insoles, and step-in system for hands-free wear. It also boasts a rugged, all-terrain outsole and wide toe box for comfort. The sneakers are 100% vegan and sustainable. The brand also vows to plant a tree for every order place, planting nearly 20,000 trees in the past several years.
The brand also prioritizes equal gender pay, ensuring manufacturing partners offer fair salaries and benefits. And, 8000 Kicks works with factory partners to decrease dependence on non-renewable energy sources. Plus, packaging is made from recycled materials and eco-friendly fibers like corn starch bioplastic.
“In order to make this planet a better place, we took a 360-degree approach to define our own responsibility as a
business,” Duque Carreira says. “This means empowering customers to opt-in for a more sustainable lifestyle by providing a superior eco-friendly footwear solution.”
