Star Wars : The Last Jedi is finally out and as we do with every movie release, Spotern took a close look at the many products featured on Lucasfilms' latest project. Rey's boots effortlessly caught our attention. A stand out piece of Daisy Ridley's costume, they were designed by Po-Zu, a London-based shoe brand known for its unique take on the shoe industry. Ethical, eco-friendly and produced through sustainable methods, their products are innovative, fashionable and affordable. We had to investigate. Thankfully we had the chance to talk to Sven Seagal, Po-Zu's Founder, who kindly granted us an interview, and told us everything we wanted to know about his brand and his collaboration with the Star Wars franchise. 

Can you introduce yourself and explain to our community what Po-Zu is?

Sure, my name is Sven Segal and I am the Founder and CEO of Po-Zu (meaning PAUSE in Japanese)!The cornerstone of Po-Zu is to respect our people and the planet whilst making shoes that love you back. We are different from many shoe brands because this mantra runs through everything that we do. We craft our shoes in Portugal, we use the best sustainable materials in the land – sourced for their eco-credentials, and use the most sustainable production methods.We want you to make a good decision when buying a pair of shoes. We believe shoes should be things you fall in love with, and they should be created to last. The current status quo in the shoe industry is terrifying, the world produces 24 BILLION pairs of shoes a year, so our mission is to PAUSE the throwaway culture.

How did you come up with the idea of an ethical and environmentally-friendly shoe brand ?

Well, when I started out as a shoe designer back in the 90’s and travelled the world visiting shoe factories, I was shocked to see how factory workers are treated, and the toxic substances they are exposed to. I just had to start my own brand and make shoes the way they ought to be made with respect to the workers and the planet.

Po-Zu worked on Star Wars : The Force Awakens and Star Wars : The Last Jedi, how did your Disney/Star Wars collaboration come about ?

We were incredibly excited to launch a co-branded footwear range, under licence with Lucasfilm and Disney. I can’t tell you too much about it, but in truth it all started with a phone call ; of course given such a huge opportunity we jumped at the chance to work with such a creative and an enduring brand. We have done collaborations in the past with major brands, including Timberland and this was just a natural step forward for us.

Were you Star Wars fans before working on the movies ?

Yes, I have always been a fan of the films. I love the craftmanship and heritage and all of the incredible intricate detail which has gone into making the films. The community which surrrounds the films is exceptional. From home-configured droids to the intricate costumes which have taken months to create to everyone in between.

What goes into designing shoes for Star Wars ? What were your initial ideas and concepts ?

It has been an incredibly interesting process. Applying our own unique design aesthetic whilst creating an authentic look that fits with the various Star Wars Charecters- each one with its own unique caharistristics and textures, from a rugged scavenger to a smooth rolling droid and anything in between. The result is what I like to think of as a ‘one of a kind’, kind of shoe: you can’t find it anywhere else.

Did you work the same way on a Padawan boot or a Stormtrooper shoe ?

The core range is made up of designs that are based on what the main charecters wear in the films, , such as the Rey boot, Finn and Poe. This also includes a Stormtrooper boot, which is pretty ‘screen-accurate’ to the First Order generation stormtrooper, and well, lets just say if you are looking to find something that is for an outfit like this we don’t think you could come any closer !

In August, Po-Zu launched its new collections, the AW17 Heritage and the AW17 Star Wars line. We are in love with the Resistance Sneakers, the Heath Black Gold and the Rey Hi-Boots, what were the concepts behind those designs ?

The Star Wars | Po-Zu REY Hi boot is one of the most handcrafted items we have ever produced and we are proud of the finished result. For anyone looking for what Rey wears in The Last Jedi, it really is a find to complete a costume. One of the best things about it, is that it comes with an ultra shock absorbing Foot-Mattress™, made of coconut fibre and natural lartex, which means you are bouncing around all day wearing these boots- a clear advantage for any rebel fighter ! We often get cosplayers telling us at shows just how comfortable they are.

The Star Wars | Po-Zu RESISTANCE sneakers are a subtle nod to the films. They are cool because they are classic and futuristic at the same time = timeless. They are highly wearable and fans would recognise the Rebel Alliance emblem on the side straight away. To top it off they are vegan too- made with organic cotton canvas and a natural latex sole.

Heath is a classic high-top. We use locally sourced cork from Portugal, Portuguese tweed, and this innovative fibre called pinatex – a sort of vegan leather alternative which is created using pineapple leaves. The large embroidery on the side is our cropped butterfly logo, and the added gold for ladies add subtle sparkle.

With two Star Wars movies under your belt, do you plan on working on the last film of the current trilogy ?

Time will tell:)  If you want to be the first to know we recommend signing up to the mailing list at www.po-zu.com.

With such a successful collaboration, do you plan on working with other companies ?

Yes, of course. We need to keep the momentum and already planning our next exciting venture, watch this space !

What are Po-zu’s plans for the future ?

This collaboration has opened up several very exciting doors for us. There is an amazing opportunity here to mainsteam ethical footwear, one pair of shoes at a time.We are excited for the opportunity it will give and the platform it provides to raise awareness to the international community about the importance of how shoes are made (check out The Better Shoes Foundation). We think there is no better audience than Star Wars fans to do this. And the response so far has been out of this world. 

If you want to know more about Po-Zu or buy their products, you can go to their website : www.po-zu.com, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.