TAYGRAs feel pretty different from your standard sneaker.
And part of the reason comes down to how they're made.
TAYGRA began making shoes in Minas Gerais, Brazil, in 1989. More than 35 years later, production remains in Brazil, with a combination of hands-on craftsmanship and machinery used to make each pair.
Here’s a little more about what goes into them.
Made in Brazil
TAYGRA began with small-scale production in a backyard in Minas Gerais.
Today, the shoes are still made entirely in Brazil rather than having production moved offshore.
Around 70% of the production process is completed by hand, with machinery assisting with the remaining 30%.
It’s a much more hands-on way of making sneakers than you might expect.
Different Styles Use Different Materials
This is an important distinction because not every TAYGRA is made from the same thing.
The Classic Low uses soft recycled fabric offcuts for its upper. Because those materials depend on what's available, colours and fabrics can vary slightly between pairs and production batches.
The Corrida Low and Corridalta High use lightweight nylon mesh uppers instead. They're soft, breathable and give those styles their close-fitting, almost sock-like feel.
So while recycled materials are part of the TAYGRA story, they're not used in every shoe - and we think it's important to be clear about that.
Flexible Soles and Water-Based Glue
One of the most recognisable things about TAYGRAs is just how much they bend.
Their flexible PVC soles are a big part of that distinctive TAYGRA feel, allowing the shoes to move much more freely with your feet than a heavily structured sneaker.
TAYGRA also uses water-based glue in its production.
The end result is a sneaker that's remarkably lightweight and flexible - and feels quite different when you first put it on.
What About Sustainability?
TAYGRA has looked for ways to reduce waste and make more considered material choices throughout its production.
The recycled fabric offcuts used for the Classic are one example.
TAYGRA has also supported the CURUPIRA project since 2009, an initiative connected with reforestation of degraded land in the Amazon region and generating income for rural communities.
We're careful not to call any sneaker perfectly sustainable. Making and transporting physical products has an environmental impact.
What we appreciate about TAYGRA is that there is thought behind the materials, production and people involved in making the shoes.
More Than 35 Years of TAYGRA
TAYGRA has been doing this since 1989.
The shoes are still made in Brazil. Much of the process is still done by hand. And they're still making sneakers that look and feel unlike most of what's sitting on a typical shoe-store wall.
That's a pretty big part of why we wanted to bring them to Australia in the first place.