Footwear
Disc Leather Sandals
Aspiga · United Kingdom$$
A gorgeous pair of sandals hand-made in Kenya, embellished with sustainable glass beads in a beautiful design.
A gorgeous pair of sandals hand-made in Kenya, embellished with sustainable glass beads in a beautiful design.
What to Consider
Materials & Construction
- ·Leather — Quality leather develops character and a patina with age — it gets better, not worse. Can last decades with basic maintenance.
- ·Glass — Non-porous and non-reactive. Borosilicate glass (Pyrex-style) resists thermal shock. Tempered glass is 4-5x stronger than regular glass.
- ·Individually crafted by hand — greater attention to detail and unique character in each piece. Hand-made products can often be repaired by the maker.
- ·Made by Aspiga in United Kingdom.
Longevity & Care
- ·Leather — Condition every 3-6 months to prevent drying and cracking. Avoid prolonged water exposure. Store in a breathable bag, never plastic.
- ·⚠ Avoid "bonded leather" or "genuine leather" — these are the lowest grades. Bonded leather is essentially glued scraps that peel and flake within 1-2 years. Look for "full-grain" or "top-grain" for real longevity.
- ·Glass — Dishwasher safe. Handle with care — glass does not flex on impact.
- ·⚠ Modern "pyrex" (lowercase) uses soda-lime glass, which is less thermal-shock resistant than vintage PYREX (uppercase) borosilicate. Don't take modern pyrex from freezer to oven.
Sustainability
- ·Aspiga is recognized for sustainable practices across their product line.
Cost Per Use
- ·Leather — A well-made leather bag or boot can last 10-20 years, making the cost per year very low compared to replacing synthetic alternatives every 1-2 years.
- ·Glass — Glass food storage and cookware lasts indefinitely. No staining, no flavor absorption, no chemical leaching.
- ·Priced around $100 (midpoint of $50–$150 for Footwear). At ~15 uses/month, this hits the $1-per-use "worth it" mark in 7 months — and falls to roughly 11¢ per use across a 5-year lifespan.
Brand at a Glance
Aspiga · United Kingdom
B Corp certified — Apparel
Oras Index70/100
Good to Know
Aspiga has built a credible foundation in organic materials and ethical production, but could strengthen supply-chain transparency by publishing a detailed factory list with farm tracing. While the brand shows genuine commitment to longevit…
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