Ecco reacts to Russian ban on synthetic shoe linings
31/05/2013
Specifically applying to children’s shoes, the change, which came into place in July 2012 shortly before Russia became a full member of the World Trade Organisation, is that now all children’s shoes in the Russian market must have linings that are made wholly from natural materials.
Ecco is a great champion of natural materials and, famously, even produces its own leather. However, it has also included Gore-Tex in some of its shoes for many years, layering the membrane into its leather uppers or laminating it into high-performance textiles inside the upper and carefully sealing it. “This way we can create outdoor shoes that are breathable, durable, waterproof, and engineered to keep feet dry and comfortable on all adventures,” the company has said.
After carefully considering the new regulations in Russia, Ecco has decided to take Gore-Tex out of all of its Russia-bound children’s shoes for autumn-winter 2013-2014.
The Danish footwear brand told sportstextiles.com that the purpose of the new regulation is to secure the safety of products used by children and adolescents, and that part of this is that the lining of children’s shoes has to be made entirely from natural materials such as cotton, leather or wool. “Any use of synthetic materials is prohibited,” the company said.
However, its vice-president for group communication, Steen Frentz Laursen, added that the technical regulations are still unclear. “They do not define what ‘lining’ is,” he said. “The authorities have not provided any interpretations of the regulations.”
He made it clear that the regulations make no specific reference to Gore-Tex and said Ecco had been forced to make its own interpretation of what would be acceptable in Russia in the face of the new rules. He pointed out that two other markets, Belarus and Kazakhstan, are also covered by the change.
“Ecco views the new regulation as a technical trade barrier,” Mr Frentz Laursen continued. “These products do not cause any safety hazard. Also, our products are sold in 90 other markets with no such requirements against synthetic materials. Nevertheless, we have adapted to the regulations to the best of our ability by developing and manufacturing an entirely new collection for this segment of the market.”
He said quality and comfort remained “at a very high level” for the altered collection for Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.
WL Gore has said it will give us a response to the situation in the coming days.
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