Payless Shoes to Launch Greener Line 10-15-08

The Goal: An Affordable, Fashionable and Sustainable Pair of Shoes

Payless ShoeSource is jumping into the green shoe game with a line of about a dozen women's shoes made from more sustainable materials.

Payless calls it "the first-ever affordable green footwear line." The shoes will cost, on average, $30 a pair.

What makes them green? They will be made from organic cottons and linen, natural hemp and use recycled outsoles. Payless points out that its first goal is to make a fashionable shoe, and then to make sure that shoe is sustainable. To do so, it's contracted with Summer Rayne Oakes, Discovery Network's Planet Green fashion and beauty expert and author of Style, Naturally: The Savvy Shopping Guide to Sustainable Fashion & Beauty.

The shoes will only be available in 400 of the company's 4,600 stores, but all will be available online starting early in 2009. Men and kids can expect shoes in the line in the future.