What Thousand Fell does

Thousand Fell is a New York-based direct-to-consumer footwear brand founded in 2018 that designs, sells, and recycles sneakers built around a closed-loop circular economy model. The company offers six core silhouettes — the Driver, Military, Lace Up, Court, High Court, and Slip On — priced between $109 and $205, plus accessories including recyclable socks, laces, hats, and water bottles. Footwear is handcrafted in family-owned factories in Portugal and Brazil using bio-based and recycled materials: bio-leather derived from GMO-free European corn waste (47% bio-based content), castor bean oil insoles (57% recycled and bio content), sugarcane fiber insole boards, recycled rubber outsoles (up to 70% post-industrial recycled content), coconut husk structural components, and antimicrobial aloe vera-coated mesh linings. The products carry third-party-validated certifications including PETA Approved Vegan, GRS, USDA BioPreferred, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, and REACH compliance.

Revenue is generated almost exclusively through one-time DTC e-commerce sales on a Shopify-hosted storefront, with no retail or wholesale channels. A secondary commercial layer is the trade-in recycling program operated in partnership with SuperCircle, under which customers send back worn footwear or any-brand clothing via pre-paid shipping in exchange for 20% off their next purchase and loyalty points; combined recycling credits and loyalty rewards can total up to $65 off per pair, creating a soft repeat-purchase flywheel. The company also monetizes ancillary items including digital gift cards ($50-$200) and a $2.54 Carbon Neutral Order add-on that offsets 108.86 lbs of CO2 per order. Distribution is limited to the United States and Canada, and the company is independently owned (operated under MASC Inc) with no parent or disclosed venture capital lead investors despite having raised approximately $36.5M cumulatively across 2019-2025 rounds.

The primary customer base comprises sustainability-conscious consumers (men and women) who prioritize circular-economy and bio-based materials, supplemented by fashion-forward buyers drawn to the brand's minimalist silhouettes and comfort-focused consumers. Marketing relies on organic social (Instagram @thousand_fell, TikTok @thousandfell), a ShareASale affiliate program, email/SMS retention flows, and earned media coverage in outlets including CNN, Travel + Leisure, and InStyle. The company has 11-50 employees, a Las Vegas recycling facility operated with SuperCircle, and is led by co-founders Chloe Marie Songer and Stuart Ahlum (COO).

Name

Thousand Fell

Legal name

MASC Inc

Website

https://thousandfell.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Thousand Fell is a New York-based DTC footwear brand that designs, sells, and recycles sneakers made from bio-based materials through a closed-loop program powered by SuperCircle, serving sustainability-conscious men and women consumers in the US and Canada.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821), Footwear and Leather Goods Repair (811430)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Athletic Footwear Manufacturing (Running/Training/Court) (IMAOAIAA), Footwear Repair, Refurbishment & Remanufacturing (IMAOAIAL)

Keywords

• Sustainable sneakers
• Circular footwear
• Recyclable shoes
• Bio-based materials
• Direct-to-consumer footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

New York

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales (Footwear and Accessories): Primary revenue from selling directly to consumers through thousandfell.com. Footwear products include sneakers in four main silhouettes (Driver, Military, Court, Lace Up) and Slip On styles for men and women. Accessories include recyclable laces, socks, hats, water bottles, and scarves. Gift cards available in $50-$200 denominations. One-time purchase model with no subscription required.
2. Trade-In Recycling Program (Incentivized Repeat Purchase): Customers send back worn Thousand Fell products or any clothing for free via pre-paid shipping. Earn 20% off next purchase plus loyalty points. Drives repeat purchases and customer retention through the SuperCircle-powered recycling program. Combined loyalty + recycling credits can total up to $65 off per pair.
3. Loyalty and Rewards Program: Points earned through sign-up, placing orders, referring friends, writing product reviews, and celebrating birthdays. Points redeemable for up to $65 off per pair of sneakers. Combines with recycling credits. Non-subscription program.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Thousand Fell designs, produces, and sells direct-to-consumer fully recyclable sneakers and accessories built from bio-based and recycled materials. The company operates a closed-loop circular system in partnership with SuperCircle, enabling customers to return worn footwear for a 20% credit toward the next purchase, with returned items broken down into raw materials and reintroduced into the supply chain.

Product overview

Thousand Fell is a sustainable footwear brand operating a circular economy business model. The core product portfolio consists of six main sneaker styles: Driver (low-profile racing-inspired), Military (1970s German Army Trainer-inspired), Lace Up (classic everyday), Court (court-inspired), High Court (high-top variant), and Slip On (casual slip-on). All footwear is handcrafted using bio-based materials including bio-leather from GMO-free European corn waste, recycled rubber, and antimicrobial aloe vera linings. The company also offers accessories including recyclable socks, laces, hats, water bottles, and scarves. Key services include a trade-in recycling program powered by SuperCircle that allows customers to return worn products for 20% credit, Carbon Neutral Order add-ons, and Digital Gift Cards. The circular technology platform is built around fully recyclable products designed to be worn, returned, and reborn repeatedly.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• The Driver: Sustainable sneakers featuring bio-leather uppers, aloe vera mesh lining, and recycled rubber outsoles. Designed for everyday wear with circular economy principles.
• The Military
• The Lace Up
• The Court
• High Court
• Slip On

Products and services

• The Military (Military Trainer) Utilitarian minimalist sneaker inspired by 1970s German Army Trainers, rebuilt for circular economy. Features bio-leather upper, recycled suede touch paneling, antimicrobial aloe vera mesh lining, and 70% recycled rubber outsole. Handcrafted in Portugal. Sold to men and women consumers at $185 per pair.
• The Driver Low-profile sneaker inspired by early-2000s racing and sport styles, handcrafted in Portugal from more than 40 pieces. Features bio-based materials, stain-resistant coating, and signature 'F' at quarter panel. Available in multiple colorways for men and women at $205 per pair.
• The Lace Up Classic everyday sneaker designed for life and everything after. Engineered for comfort and durability, handcrafted in Brazil using bio-based materials. Circular by design with full recyclability. Priced at $145 per pair.
• The Court Court-inspired silhouette with padded collar and vulcanized rubber sole. Made with natural rubber outsole and bio-based insole board derived from sugarcane. Handcrafted in Brazil. Priced at $155 per pair.
• High Court High-top sneaker with sculpted ankle and clean lines for courtside confidence and everyday life. Built with bio-based materials and circular design for full recyclability. Handcrafted in Brazil.
• Slip On Day-in, day-out slip-on sneaker designed for life. Comfortable, breathable, stain and odor resistant with quartz coating. Features aloe vera-coated mesh liner and cushioned recycled rubber insole. Made in Brazil. Priced from $109.
• The Recyclable Sock Sustainable socks made from 75% organic cotton, 20% polyester, and 5% elastane. Features molded fit, knitted arch support, and mid-rise design. Fully recyclable through the brand's trade-in program. Priced at $18 per pair.
• The Recyclable Lace Shoe laces made from 100% rPET (recycled plastic). Available in multiple styles including THE CORD LACE, THE RIBBON LACE, and THE HIKER LACE. Fully recyclable through the trade-in program. Priced at $6-$10.
• Digital Gift Card Digital gift cards available in denominations of $50, $100, $150, and $200. Delivered by email with instructions to redeem at checkout. No additional processing fees.
• Carbon Neutral Order Carbon offset add-on that offsets 108.86 lbs of carbon per order. Enables carbon-neutral shipping for customer orders at $2.54 per order.
• Take Back Ticket (Trade-In Recycling Program) Free recycling ticket that provides a pre-paid shipping label to the brand's recycling program powered by SuperCircle. Allows customers to send pre-loved sneakers and clothing (from any brand) for recycling and earn up to $65 in credit toward next purchase.
• EarthLover Hat Limited edition 100% cotton hat produced in California, USA. Part of the EarthLover collection celebrating love, peace, and community.
• EarthLover Water Bottle Limited edition water bottle as part of the EarthLover collection celebrating sustainability and community values.
• EarthLover Scarf Limited edition 100% cotton bandana screen printed with water-based ink. Produced in Colorado. 22 x 22 inches. Hand wash. Fully recyclable.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of all textiles end up in landfill annually (11.3 million tons, equivalent to one garbage truck per second). Thousand Fell's recycling program keeps textiles out of landfill.
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SuperCirclecoreTechnology or IntegrationSuperCircle powers Thousand Fell's proprietary closed-loop recycling program. Returned footwear and clothing are processed through SuperCircle's Las Vegas facility, where items are broken down into component parts, converted back into usable raw materials, and reintroduced into the supply chain. Customers use the SuperCircle platform (thousandfell.supercircle.world) to initiate recycling shipments and receive pre-paid labels. This is a core operational partnership enabling Thousand Fell's circular economy business model.
• ShareASaleminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorShareASale is Thousand Fell's affiliate marketing partner (merchant ID 94190). Third-party affiliates earn commissions for referring customers to thousandfell.com through the ShareASale platform. This drives customer acquisition through a network of affiliate marketers.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allbirds: Direct sustainable sneaker competitor with a similar DTC-first model, bio-based materials (wool, sugarcane foam, eucalyptus), and B Corp certification. Most comparable publicly traded footwear brand in the sustainability niche.
• Veja: French sustainable sneaker brand using wild rubber, organic cotton, and recycled materials. Similar circular positioning and premium pricing; distributed globally via DTC and select wholesale partners.
• Hylo: UK-based sustainable athletic footwear brand using bio-based and recycled materials. Profiled alongside Thousand Fell in industry press as a leading sustainable footwear DTC brand.
• Cariuma: Sustainable sneaker brand DTC-first with bio-based materials and B Corp certification. Directly competes for the same sustainability-conscious, design-forward consumer in the casual sneaker category.
• Atoms: Premium DTC sneaker brand focused on everyday wear with a single-silhouette product strategy. Comparable premium pricing ($125-$145) and DTC direct-to-consumer model targeting design-conscious consumers.
• Nisolo: Sustainable footwear and leather goods brand with B Corp certification. Comparable premium positioning, ethical supply chain narrative, and DTC-first go-to-market with growing wholesale presence.
• Nothing New: Sustainable sneaker brand using recycled materials and emphasizing circularity. Comparable sustainability-focused DTC approach and sneaker product category overlap.

Broad incumbents

• Adidas: Global incumbent with significant sustainability initiatives (Parley, Stan Smith Mylo, Futurecraft Loop). Competes indirectly through sustainable sneaker lines at lower price points and broader retail distribution.
• Nike: Global incumbent with Move to Zero sustainability platform and Space Hippie recycled-material line. Brings sustainable product to mass retail at scale with brand authority that exceeds Thousand Fell's.

Others

• SuperCircle: Reverse logistics and textile recycling technology partner that powers Thousand Fell's closed-loop program. Important ecosystem participant — also serves as a potential supplier alternative or competitor in the recycling-as-a-service category.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/thousand_fell
• TikToktiktok.com/@thousandfell
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/thousand-fell

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds6 records

Investors6 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Thousand Fell