These handmade leather boots are a fraction of the cost you'd normally pay — and they come with a lifetime warranty
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Oliberte
- Oliberté is a sustainable footwear brand based out of Ethiopia selling handmade leather boots at an accessible price point.
- We had a chance to try out two of their best-sellers (the women's Zulira and the men's Ngola) and loved the premium leather, unbelievably lightweight construction, price, and lifetime warranty.
Oliberté is also based out of Ethiopia at the world's first Fair Trade Certified factory and aims to end generational poverty through local work opportunities
— by "trade, not aid."
Premium leather — especially the kind that’s handmade and has to be imported — typically comes at a much higher cost than what you’ll find being sold online at the up-and-coming startup, Oliberté.
Known since 2012 as the world’s first (and only) Fair Trade Certified footwear manufacturing factory, the company is responsible for the lightweight, premium leather boots you might recognize from your Instagram feed — but what makes them different, aside from how lightweight and luxurious the shoes are for their price — is the company they come from.
Oliberté is based in Ethiopia and aims to end generational poverty in sub-Saharan Africa through “trade, not aid” — providing work opportunities to 100+ people (60% of whom are women) and pairing with suppliers, farmers, and craftsmen across Africa to build and sell a premium product. Oliberté believes that “with the right partners, each country within Africa has the means to grow and support its people.”
The factories provide safe jobs with good wages where none existed before. A portion of the profits from each product sold are reinvested into the creation of more factories and jobs, and, over time, the community will experience exponential economic growth and social enterprise as the company itself grows. More tangibly, as part of its Fair Trade status, a portion of all Oliberté profits is diverted into a fund that is 100% controlled by the company's warehouse staff. At the end of the year, staff workers are then able to vote on how to best use the fund to enrich themselves and the community as a whole. To date, the company has seen over $100,000 USD deposited. In their words, the end goal is that “adults are able to work. Children are able to attend school. [And] a new generational cycle begins”.
Oliberte
This respect for workers' rights and wages also transfers to unique respect for customers. On top of a handmade leather boot sold at a fraction of the price of competitors, Oliberté will also give you a lifetime warranty against any defect. And on top of an already low price, you can expect free shipping to the US and Canada.
Out of respect for the environment, Oliberté sources their materials locally and limits unnecessary packaging. They donate 1% of all profits to the planet through "Give Back to Blue", and they're a certified B-Corporation, which means they've been recognized for "harness[ing] the power of private enterprise to create public benefit." Voluntarily, they're meeting higher standards of sustainability, transparency, and performance than are legally required. In Oliberté's words, they're just trying to make a really great product without losing sight of the need to "[do] right by all."
We had a chance to try out two of their best-sellers — the Zulira (women’s, $155) and Ngola (men's, $200) — and you can read our thoughts below, but in summary: we loved them. They're impossibly lightweight, the leather is high-quality and supple, and the laid-back style goes with anything. For the price and lifetime warranty, they're a fantastic deal. And perhaps just as importantly, we feel good about shopping here.
Below are the boots we tried, plus our thoughts and experiences. Browse all Oliberté footwear here.
Oliberte
Amir Ismael, Insider Picks reporter: Ngola boots in Rustic Brown, $200 (pictured above in Black).
When I first learned about Oliberté, the quote “Give a man a fish, and you’ll feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you’ll feed him for a lifetime,” came to mind immediately. There are many companies that help people in need by making a donation for every purchase (TOMS and Bombas come to mind first), but Oliberté isn’t in the charity business. They’re able to empower the people of Africa with a vertically integrated business model that helps support local communities. By sourcing materials and creating the shoes in Ethiopia and other African countries, the brand creates jobs and generates revenue for many people — farmers, tanners, craftspeople, and other factory workers.
In addition to having an amazing backstory, the products are great, too. I tested the Ngola Boot in Rustic Brown, a 6-inch combat style with a low profile jagged outsole. What I like best about the Ngola is the padded ankle collar and tongue, which is lined with 100% goat leather. For a combat boot, they’re also extremely light, which makes them one of the most comfortable boots I’ve worn. I wouldn’t recommend wearing them as a work boot, but if you’re looking for a stylish, lightweight boot that also supports a good cause, the Oliberté Ngola is it.
Oliberte
Mara Leighton, Insider Picks reporter: Zulira boot in Rustic Brown, $155 (pictured above in Rustic Brown).
I've been seeing these shoes all over social media, so I was excited to see if I could love Oliberté's best-selling Zuliras as much as I love the company’s ethos of ending generational poverty through work opportunities. After wearing them pretty much every weekend since getting them, I’m happy to say that they’re worth the hype based on nothing but their fit, look, and price — though the ethical practices are an undeniable feel-good incentive.
The Zuliras are unbelievably light — much lighter than any other pair of shoe I own aside from flip flops — and the leather is soft and high-quality. I slipped them on right out of the box for a two-mile walk around the city and came home without blisters, too, which is a feat that always impresses me. Since receiving them, I've found myself habitually grabbing them for grocery runs and trips; I can walk all day in them without feeling weighed down, and they look good with basically anything.
Some customers found the ankle to be tight and sized up as a result, but mine have been true to size. I can only fit thin socks inside at the moment, but since leather stretches with repeated wear, that could change in the future. With anything handmade you have to leave some room for variation, so if you’re concerned about fit or want extra room for thicker socks, you may want to size up. If you're looking for a pair of lightweight, high-quality pull-on leather boots that feel good to wear and feel good to buy, these are a great option.