Established in 2012 by London based brother’s Benjie and Hugo Davis; Hugs & Co puts the cool back into moccasins and other traditional styles with its modern interpretation of traditional silhouettes.
Built on the brother’s shared passion of design and creativity, Hugs & Co sources all of their components from suppliers in Europe, with the construction of each pair taking place in Portugal. The material selection process is an integral part of the design with the brother’s carefully selecting materials that will ensure a durable and beautifully crafted end product.
This chic shoe line is available to both men and women and covers all styles from the traditional boat shoe to your Chelsea boots – all of which are available in a variety of colours and a modest price point.
The showstopper however, has to be the TS1 driving loafer made with upcycled tyre tread. Built on a moccasin construction the driving loafer is the original hybrid shoe that twists a classic look with a comfortable build – this versatile shoe can easily take you from the beach to the bar but the TS1 driving loafer also offers a fantastic talking point – it’s environmentally conscious with the sole made of unused tyre tread – win, win.
The upcycled tyre tread adds durability and grip to the shoes whilst maintaining its original elegance. Only a fraction of the energy used to produce new sole units is required to convert the waste tyres used into Hugs & Co’s usable shoe parts; and with millions of scrap tyres disregarded each year, which are made from materials that are designed not to degrade, tyres otherwise create long-term damage to the environment. They’re often burned giving off toxic fumes or buried using expensive and energy consuming methods to break them down.
The TS1 repurposes this material and the simple process produces a tenth of the CO2 that new soles would make.
The process of manufacture involves modern production techniques interspersed with artisanal expertise and is the first-time environmental consciousness has been successfully introduced to the luxury footwear market.
Available online and in Harvey Nichols, Hugs & Co’s has a big tick from us, who doesn’t want to rock a pair of shoes that’s both stylish and sustainable.
To view the whole collection online, visit: hugsandco.com.
