Everything you need to know about our Seaqual Yarn® recycled fabric
We could have increased our prices without telling you.
An extra 5 euros on a product, sometimes 10—it’s not that much after all.
Honestly, you probably wouldn’t have noticed. And anyway, that’s just how it is: “there’s no choice.”
But no.
That’s simply not how we operate or how we see our relationship with you, our customers.
We prefer to explain what’s really happening within our company.
n°1
Our workshops in Portugal
Since the creation of Pied de Biche, our shoes have been made in Portugal. In recent years, the country has implemented several consecutive wage increases.
Naturally, all our raw material suppliers have been affected.
Naturally, they have had no choice but to pass these increases on through their prices.
Our workshop managers, Paulo, Eurico, José Carlos, Fernando, to name just a few, have also had to reflect these rising material and labor costs. And that’s completely normal. And we don’t really have a choice either…
Of course, we discuss this with our suppliers. We try to find solutions and manage these increases. But questioning the rise in our artisans’ wages is not an option—it is more than justified.
N°2
Other reasons
- International freight costs have increased fivefold
- An inflation rate of +2.6% in Portugal in 2021
Unfortunately, these increases do not boost our margins—quite the opposite.
On the contrary, we continue to work on them, as we always have since the beginning of Pied de Biche, to offer our craftsmanship at the fairest possible price. And that’s non-negotiable.
Let’s get straight to the point: pricing
Our Billy sneakers
To give you a concrete example, our iconic Billy sneakers increase from €140 to €145. The leather we use still comes from Faeda, an Italian tannery. The sole remains natural rubber (sometimes also made with recycled rubber).
It is produced just a few kilometers from our workshop. We continue to use Strobel construction, side stitching, a full cowhide leather lining, GOTS-certified organic cotton laces, and a FSC-certified cardboard box…
And ultimately…
Quality remains our priority
At the same time, we are constantly working to improve quality. Relentlessly. How can we refine construction? Strengthen the opening? Improve long-term durability? This work is carried out daily across all our manufacturers.
Because quality is our reason for being. It’s our promise to you, and we will never compromise on it. On the contrary, with every collection, we improve and refine our products.
This is why some of our prices are increasing. We hope this explanation is clear, and we would be happy to hear from you if you have any questions or feedback.