Alohas
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: Spain
Quick verdict
Alohas is best for style-conscious shoppers who want trendy, designer-inspired footwear with a lower environmental footprint than fast fashion and don't mind waiting for pre-order items. The on-demand production model, where buying early gets you 30% off, is a genuine structural approach to reducing overproduction. However, Alohas is not B Corp certified (commonly confused with unrelated brand "ALOHA"), and the brand has significant transparency gaps: no published Code of Conduct, no supplier map, and no living wage guarantees.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Barcelona, Spain
- Founded
- 2015
- Product categories
- Shoes, Womenswear
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- Leather Working Group (LWG), REACH compliant
Alohas sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
All leather is Leather Working Group (LWG) certified. Offers vegan alternatives in cactus, corn, and apple leathers. Recycled materials in soles and linings. REACH-compliant. No aggregate materials breakdown published.
Shoes handcrafted in Alicante, Spain (clothing in Portugal), so EU production is inherently lower-risk. However, no published Code of Conduct, no living wage guarantee, and no stated frequency of supplier visits.
On-demand model genuinely reduces overproduction. Local production reduces shipping emissions. Optional €2 carbon offset at checkout. No take-back or circularity programme. No published carbon footprint data.
Weakest area. No sustainability report, no supplier map, no Code of Conduct, no animal welfare policy, no waste reduction metrics. Broad claims with limited verifiable data.
€90–€300+ for handcrafted Spain-made footwear with certified leather is fair. Pre-order discounts (up to 30%) offer genuine value. Trustpilot (3.1/5, ~1,800 reviews) shows mixed durability experiences.
What they do well
- Genuine on-demand production model. Pre-orders allow demand forecasting before manufacturing, with an inverted pricing model (30% off at launch, 15% off, then full price) that directly incentivises sustainable shopping behaviour.
- LWG-certified leather. All leather products carry traceability numbers under the world's largest leather sustainability programme.
- Local European manufacturing. Handcrafted by artisans in Alicante, Spain, minimising transport emissions and providing EU labour protections.
- Vegan and plant-based options. Shoes in cactus, corn, and apple leather for cruelty-free alternatives.
- Stylish, trend-forward designs. The Tb.490 sneaker has become a cult favourite competing with Adidas Sambas/Gazelles.
Room for improvement
- Transparency gaps are significant. No Code of Conduct, supplier map, impact report, or living wage guarantee. Reviewers at Curiously Conscious flagged the lack of substantive data.
- Fast-fashion marketing tactics despite sustainability branding. Sells 300+ shoe styles, uses urgency-driven language, and employs influencer-heavy marketing. No take-back, repair, or circularity programme. "Zero waste" claims are unsubstantiated.
About Alohas
Alohas was founded in 2015 in Honolulu, Hawaii, by Alejandro Porras (current CEO), inspired by local reactions to traditional Menorcan sandals he brought to the islands. Headquarters subsequently moved to Barcelona, where the creative team designs all collections.
Shoes are handcrafted in the Alicante region of Spain, a historic shoemaking centre. Some clothing is produced in Portugal. The brand uses LWG-certified leather as its primary material, supplemented by vegan options in cactus, corn, and apple-based leathers. REACH-compliant with low-impact dyes.
The defining feature is the on-demand production model: new collections launch at 30% off for pre-order, the discount drops to 15% once production begins, then full price when in stock. A €2 carbon offset option exists at checkout. Alohas is NOT B Corp certified, which is commonly confused with "ALOHA," an unrelated plant-based protein company.
Key certifications are limited to LWG and REACH compliance. Ships worldwide with free shipping typically over €150. Pre-order wait times range from weeks to months. Physical stores in Barcelona and Sevilla. Pricing positions Alohas as accessible luxury, comparable to Sézane or Reformation but with stronger production-model sustainability credentials.
Product highlights
Tb.490 Rife Leather Sneakers
Low-top leather/suede sneaker, 20+ colourways
~€170 (€119 pre-order)
Cult-hit competing with Adidas Samba; LWG-certified leather, handcrafted in Spain
Sway Leather Ballet Flats
Bow-front ballet flat in 10+ colours
~€160
Viral social media hit; some Trustpilot concerns about durability
Roxie Knee-High Boots
Tall leather boots with slim profile
~€250–€300
Multiple reviewers praise supple leather and comfortable toe box
Nico Leather Sandals
Crossover slingback with ZAMAK ecological hardware
~€130
Zero break-in time per reviewer testimonials; the sandal that built Alohas' reputation
