The appointment with ‘The monthly interview’ comes back again, thus another interesting connection between creative people committed to sustainability is born. In July Tiziano Guardini (congratulations again for the beautiful fashion show at Milan Fashion Week yesterday) ‘nominated’ Paola Caracciolo, a friend with whom he shared his professional beginnings, a designer of strictly eco-friendly, luxury and made in Italy footwear. Great, we lacked a creative of accessories in our monthly appointment! So let’s take you to Paola and her experience with the production of high-end vegan shoes.
So Paola, I refer to the last thing Tiziano Guardini told me by ‘nominating you’, that is, he met you at the beginning of your path and you also work on the topic of sustainability. Your beginnings, in fact. How have they been and what is the motivation that made you choose to produce ethically?


When you choose and take a road devoted to cruelty-free, obviously no distinction is made between food and clothing. Eating meat and wearing leather are two different sides of the same coin. In 2006 in Italy there were not many alternatives (and no qualitative) in terms of cruelty-free footwear. Finding no ways, I decided to produce them directly, thus opening my first sustainable and vegan business. Today Nemanti, my brand, is the result of about 12 years of research and hard work to combine concepts that seemed distant initially: sustainability, luxury and quality craftsmanship.
From my research on the web, I understand that you first founded a startup, and then move on to Nemanti; you remained in the footwear industry but with what differences, if any?
Your products have Italian style and elegance in their DNA but with the added value of being vegans; would you like to talk to me about the various materials you use and maybe you should indicate some characteristics that have convinced you over time to continue using them? Do you have a favorite one?
We use the best materials on the market in terms of comfort, durability and sustainability. We do a lot of research because the raw material is very important to have a quality product. The last material that came into the collection is the apple skin, a very sustainable and very beautiful fabric to look like, exactly like the classic leather but with the plus of being obviously totally cruelty-free. We use Alcantara, an Italian brand well known for this extremely qualitative material that has an incredible softness to the touch. For the next season we have added a cork skin to the collection which, in terms of sustainability, softness and comfort, really competes with the finest leathers. However, our warhorse has been remaining for years a grain of wheat, a material derived from the cereals of non-food crops.
Interesting, you gave me different ideas in terms of ecological materials that I will go deeper. But besides these, talking about the entire supply chain, what makes your footwear sustainable?
And you do well, congratulations! However, Italy still seems a step behind other European countries in terms of sustainability and, specifically, ethical fashion, even if something is moving. As an entrepreneur with many years of experience, how do you see the present and above all the future of our local eco-fashion?
Yes, I think so too, I discover every day new realities, entrepreneurial and creative, which are passionately dedicated to this issue and in most cases I feel sensitivity and a deep ethics and not just the desire to follow a trend. Well Paola, our interview has come to an end; as usual I have to ask you who you nominate for the October interview, while I thank you for your important contribution. Keep me updated on your news!
I nominate Ecoalf, known at a fair in Berlin; I fell in love with their line and commonality of values.
So let’s go to Spain to know this brand of clothing and accessories committed to the protection of oceans (and oceans here at eco-à-porter always return 🌊).