Sustainability in shoe design and production sector in Turkey

The rapid increase in production and consumption due to air and water pollution, soil erosion, deforestation, global warming, waste, climate crisis and population growth negatively affects the future of the world. Although natural resources such as air and water, which are necessary for life, are not infinite, ensuring the balance between nature and people will be an important step in ensuring sustainability. Choosing the right material, minimizing the use of resources and longevity of the product have an important place in sustainability in the production of shoes, which are used as a need to protect the foot from the effect of climate and environmental conditions. In the content of the study, general information about shoes, shoe design and production, commonly used materials in production, foot health and shoes, the concept of sustainability, its development, sustainable materials, exemplary sustainable designers and brands are given. It is aimed to evaluate the importance and application of sustainability in the design and production phase of the shoe production sector, which is a compulsory and semi-durable consumer goods. For this purpose, the companies interviewed on a voluntary basis for our study; In the shoe design process, sustainability awareness, sustainable material priority, sustainability in the production process, recycling, reuse and waste evaluation were examined. Sample shoes with original design and production using sustainable materials are included in the content of the thesis. It is aimed that the study on the subject will be a source for future generations.