Cariuma
Rated: Great
Price: $$
Location: Brazil
Quick verdict
Cariuma was a well-regarded B Corp-certified sustainable sneaker brand known for comfort, eco-friendly materials, and a genuine reforestation programme planting 2.5M+ trees. The brand held an impressive roster of certifications. However, it appears to have collapsed operationally in 2025, with widespread unfulfilled orders and no formal public explanation. Prospective buyers cannot currently purchase from the brand.
Key info
- Headquarters
- Singapore (registered); operations in Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro
- Founded
- 2018
- Product categories
- Shoes, Sneakers
- Price range
- $$
- Key certifications
- B Corp (score 94.2), Butterfly Mark, WRAP Gold (factories), LWG Gold (leather), GOTS, Bluesign, OEKO-TEX, LEED Gold (warehouse)
Cariuma sustainability rating
Our ratings are based on a scale from 1 (We Avoid) to 5 (Excellent). How we rate
Rating breakdown
GOTS-certified organic cotton, LWG Gold-rated leather, natural rubber, bamboo, recycled PET, Bluesign-certified dyes. Strong portfolio with third-party certifications. Docked for continued use of animal leather.
WRAP Gold-certified factories in China with annual audits. 100% Tier 1 traceability, 85% Tier 2, 59% Tier 3. However, there is no evidence the brand ensures workers are paid living wages.
2.5M+ trees planted in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. LEED Gold solar-powered warehouse. Carbon-neutral shipping. Water-based glues, single-box recycled packaging. Not fully carbon-neutral overall.
B Corp score of 94.2 (median is 50.9). Partial supply chain traceability better than industry average. However, Chinese manufacturing was not prominently disclosed on the website, and the sudden cessation without explanation raises serious concerns.
Canvas ~$89, leather ~$139–$159. More affordable than VEJA leather, comparable to Allbirds. Quality widely praised. Value now impossible to realise given apparent shutdown.
What they do well
- Genuine reforestation programme. Planted 2+ trees per pair sold, totalling over 2.5M trees across 120+ native species in Brazil's Atlantic Forest, working with indigenous communities
- Strong B Corp certification with a score of 94.2 (80 required to qualify; median business scores 50.9), and first skateboarding shoe company ever B Corp certified
- Thoughtful material sourcing including GOTS organic cotton, LWG Gold leather (never from deforested areas), Bluesign dyes, natural rubber, recycled PET linings, and bio-foam insoles from cork and mamona oil
- Exceptional comfort widely praised by reviewers, editors, and podiatrists with zero break-in time and memory foam insoles
- Eco-conscious packaging. Single-box shipping (shoe box = shipping box), soy-based ink, 100% recycled cardboard, biodegradable fillers
Room for improvement
- Apparent business collapse. Throughout 2025, massive volumes of reviews documented unfulfilled pre-orders, charges taken without delivery, zero communication, and unreachable customer service. The brand ceased accepting orders without formal explanation.
- Manufacturing transparency gap. Shoes were made in China, but this was not clearly stated on the website. The "Born in Rio" messaging created confusion about production origin.
About Cariuma
Cariuma was founded in 2018 by David Python and Fernando Porto, two Brazilian former footwear industry executives. Headquartered in Singapore (registered as Cariuma Central Pte. Ltd.) with operations in Los Angeles and Rio de Janeiro, the brand positioned itself as a DTC sustainable sneaker company.
The material portfolio was genuinely impressive: GOTS-certified organic cotton canvas, LWG Gold-rated leather and suede, ethically tapped natural rubber from Brazilian Hevea trees, bamboo knit, recycled PET, and Bluesign-certified dyes. Insoles were 100% vegan, made from cork, bio-based memory foam, and organic mamona oil. The LEED Gold-certified warehouse ran on solar power.
The flagship initiative was its Brazilian reforestation programme, restoring the Atlantic Forest biome that has lost 87%+ of its canopy. Manufacturing took place in WRAP Gold-certified factories in China with annual audits. The brand raised $53.5M in funding and achieved B Corp certification in 2021.
Pre-shutdown prices ranged from ~$89 (canvas) to ~$159 (leather), positioning Cariuma in the mid-range sustainable footwear segment. Shipping was carbon-neutral through DHL Go Green. However, severe operational difficulties in 2025 led to cessation of orders by late 2025/early 2026.
Product highlights
OCA Low Canvas
Signature low-top organic cotton sneaker in 19+ colours
~$89
11,000+ reviews; brand's most popular style, 100% vegan with cork/bio-foam insole
Salvas Leather Sneaker
Minimalist low-top with LWG Gold-rated leather
~$139–$145
Non-deforested leather sources, cushioned heel collar, the "elevated everyday" option
Catiba Pro 2.0
Performance skate shoe with board-gripping outsole
~$100–$120
Recycled fabric upper, natural rubber outsole; dedicated skate performance shoe
IBI Low Knit
Bamboo fibre and recycled plastic knit sneaker
~$98
Claimed lowest-carbon-footprint sneaker at 5.48g CO2e; machine washable
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