Ubac Shoes
Ubac Shoes is a French direct-to-consumer footwear brand that designs and sells eco-responsible sneakers, sandals, and accessories made from recycled wool, rubber, cotton, French linen, and hemp via its own e-commerce site, serving eco-conscious consumers across 15 European countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersSaint-nicolas-des-biefs, France
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Ubac Shoes does
Ubac Shoes is a French direct-to-consumer footwear brand founded in 2018 and headquartered in Saint-nicolas-des-biefs, France. The company designs, manufactures, and sells eco-responsible sneakers, sandals, and accessories made primarily from recycled wool, recycled rubber, recycled cotton, French linen, and hemp through its own e-commerce storefront ubac-store.com. Ubac serves eco-conscious consumers across 15 European countries, with primary operational focus in France. The brand is dual-signatured as "Ubac" and "UBAC" and operates with a very small team of 1-10 employees.
The company's core technical differentiator is a proprietary and patented zero-dye wool recycling process based in the Tarn region of France, which transforms old jumpers into new fabric without water, dyes, or new material inputs and is described as delivering 98% less environmental impact than virgin wool. Additional proprietary inputs include R-LENO recycled wool fabric with thermoregulating properties, R-SKIN recycled rubber (a 70% rubber / 30% recycled-rubber vegan leather alternative), EXTRAGRIP soles containing 35% recycled materials, Drytech ergonomic insoles made from production waste, and Green EVA outsoles derived from sugar cane. Manufacturing is distributed across a network of regional workshops within a 1,750 km radius: wool defibring in Tarn, knitting in Roanne (Jean Ruiz), linen spinning and weaving in Alsace (with flax sourced from Normandy where France produces 80% of the world's flax), shoe assembly in Porto (Portugal), and sandal component production in Northern Portugal and Southern Spain. GRS certification validates the recycled wool supply chain.
Ubac operates a one-time-purchase DTC commerce model with single-unit pricing per SKU, generating revenue through direct product sales. The brand does not currently sell at full price across most SKUs: current listed prices range from €35-€99 against original prices of €110-€195, representing 40-74% discounts. Accessories (socks, beanies, scarves, hats, caps, gift sets, gift cards) are priced at €21-€70. The go-to-market motion combines DTC e-commerce with community-led co-creation, where customers vote on upcoming Spring 2025 collections via Typeform surveys. Marketing channels include an email newsletter (offering a €10 first-order discount), the "REGARD" blog, organic social, and the transparent "Ubac Vision" page disclosing materials, manufacturers, and cost breakdowns. Free shipping applies to French orders over €120, with free returns within 60 days. The brand donates 1% of sales to Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO), having raised €5,690 through its #REBIRD operation, and operates a take-back recycling program.
Ubac Shoes firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Ubac Shoes
- Website
- https://ubac-store.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Ubac Shoes is a French direct-to-consumer footwear brand that designs and sells eco-responsible sneakers, sandals, and accessories made from recycled wool, rubber, cotton, French linen, and hemp via its own e-commerce site, serving eco-conscious consumers across 15 European countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Ubac Shoes industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Footwear
- NAICS
- Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821)
- SIC
- Retail-Shoe Stores (5661), Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB), Footwear Components & Materials (Uppers, Soles, Laces, Insoles) (CRAAACAK)
Keywords
Where Ubac Shoes is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Saint-nicolas-des-biefs
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
Ubac Shoes business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Direct Product Sales: One-time purchase model for footwear and accessories sold directly through the e-commerce website. Products include sneakers, sandals, socks, beanies, scarves, and gift boxes.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Recycled wool sneakers (Vola, Terra) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Linen sneakers (AXOLO LIN) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium recycled wool sneakers (VOLKAN) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Recycled rubber sneakers (AXOLO R-SKIN®) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cotton sneakers (KOTO) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eco-friendly sandals (Aura) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Accessories (socks, beanies, scarves) |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels5 records
Ubac Shoes product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Ubac Shoes manufactures and sells eco-responsible sneakers and sandals made from recycled and natural materials, including recycled wool (R-LENO), recycled rubber (R-SKIN), French linen, recycled cotton, hemp, and sustainable alternatives to animal leather. The product line also includes accessories such as socks, beanies, scarves, and caps made from recycled materials, all produced locally in France, Portugal, and Spain and sold direct-to-consumer via the ubac-store.com e-commerce site.
Product overview
Ubac Shoes is a French eco-responsible sneaker brand offering a diverse portfolio of sustainable footwear and accessories. The core product line consists of sneakers (baskets) including Vola (recycled wool), Volkan Wool/Knit (wool/knit materials), AXOLO Lin/R-SKIN/Mesclat (lin/rubber/hemp-wool blend), Koto/Koto Knit/Koto Velours (recycled cotton/organic cotton-TENCEL), Terra/Terra 2, and Aura 1/2 sandals. The accessory line includes Phoenix and Embroidered Beanies, Wool Socks, Socks Gift Sets, Hat and Scarf Gift Sets, Scarves, Cotton Caps, and Recycled Polyester Laces. All products emphasize natural and recycled materials (recycled wool, recycled cotton, French linen, hemp, recycled rubber), local manufacturing (France/Portugal), and environmental responsibility. The brand operates on a co-creation model involving customers in product development.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Vola Sneaker
Quantifiable outcome
- 98% less environmental impact compared to new wool production
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Ubac Shoes
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
Ubac Shoes technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Ubac Shoes partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Blue Schooner CompanyminorUbac partners with Blue Schooner Company to experiment with sail transport for their products, aiming for zero-emission shipping. This experimental partnership explores sustainable logistics alternatives.
- VirgocoopcoreCo-creation of the Mesclat collection - a fabric made from 100% French wool (from Lacaune sheep farmers in Lozère) and French hemp (from Lot). The mesclat is 100% French, 100% natural, and 0 dyeing required.
- WoraklsminorCo-creation of a sneaker with French electronic music artist Worakls, representing a unique partnership between an internationally recognized artist and the eco-friendly shoe brand.
- Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux (LPO)coreUbac donates 1% of annual sales to LPO (League for the Protection of Birds), a French environmental protection association. Donations support species protection, conservation, education and awareness. €5,690 was raised through the #REBIRD operation.
- BroussaudcoreFrench manufacturer producing socks made from recycled wool in a zero-waste and ethical manner. Located in France.
- Jean Ruiz (Maison Jean Ruiz)coreWorkshop in Roanne, Loire, France producing Phoenix beanies and scarves from recycled wool using zero-waste techniques. Known for quality craftsmanship.
- Filature Du ParccoreWool spinning facility in the Tarn region of France that processes recycled wool using a patented defibring technique that requires no new material, water, or dyes.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Ubac Shoes competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Allbirds: US-origin sustainable footwear brand built around natural materials (merino wool, eucalyptus fiber, sugarcane foam) with strong DTC distribution. Directly comparable to Ubac in its use of proprietary natural-material innovations and eco-responsible positioning.
- Native Shoes: Canadian brand making lightweight, plant-based, and recycled-material footwear with a focus on end-of-life recyclability. Comparable to Ubac's closed-loop takeback program and material-driven sustainability story.
- Veja: French sustainable sneaker brand using recycled and fairly traded materials (organic cotton, wild rubber, recycled polyester). Directly comparable to Ubac as a French eco-responsible footwear brand with a similar premium DTC positioning and material transparency ethos.
- Saola: French sustainable sneaker brand using recycled PET, organic cotton, and natural materials. Directly comparable as a French-based eco-friendly sneaker competitor with similar price points and DTC go-to-market.
- Cariuma: Brazilian-origin sustainable sneaker brand using organic cotton, recycled plastics, and natural rubber. Comparable as a DTC eco-conscious footwear brand competing for similar conscious-consumer wallet share.
- Flamingos' Life: Spanish sustainable sneaker brand using recycled and organic materials with a focus on circularity and vegan design. Comparable as a Southern European eco-sneaker competitor in similar price and material segment.
Broad incumbents
- Adidas (with Parley and Made with Nature lines): Global athletic footwear incumbent with major sustainable product lines (Parley recycled ocean plastic, Made with Nature bio-based materials). Comparable as a scaled player moving into the recycled-materials sneaker category Ubac competes in.
- Patagonia: Established outdoor apparel and footwear brand known for environmental activism, recycled materials, and supply-chain transparency. Comparable as a broader sustainability-driven lifestyle brand with footwear adjacency, though vastly larger and more diversified.
Regional players
- Filippa K: Nordic sustainable fashion brand with circularity commitments and recycled material usage. Comparable as a European premium sustainable apparel brand with circular design principles, though broader in apparel than footwear.
Emerging players
- Thousand Fell: US-based circular sneaker brand built around a takeback-and-recycle program with recycled and bio-based materials. Comparable to Ubac's circular return-and-recycle value proposition, though smaller and more recently launched.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Ubac Shoes social profiles
Digital presenceUbac Shoes compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Ubac Shoes financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Ubac Shoes leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Ubac Shoes funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Ubac Shoes M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Ubac Shoes
What does Ubac Shoes do?
Ubac Shoes manufactures and sells eco-responsible sneakers and sandals made from recycled and natural materials, including recycled wool (R-LENO), recycled rubber (R-SKIN), French linen, recycled cotton, hemp, and sustainable alternatives to animal leather. The product line also includes accessories such as socks, beanies, scarves, and caps made from recycled materials, all produced locally in France, Portugal, and Spain and sold direct-to-consumer via the ubac-store.com e-commerce site.
Is Ubac Shoes a public or private company?
Ubac Shoes is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Ubac Shoes founded?
Ubac Shoes was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Ubac Shoes based?
Ubac Shoes is headquartered in Saint-nicolas-des-biefs, France, in the Europe region.
How does Ubac Shoes make money?
One revenue line is on record: direct Product Sales.
Who are Ubac Shoes's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Allbirds, Native Shoes, Veja, Saola, Cariuma and Flamingos' Life. Broad incumbents are Adidas (with Parley and Made with Nature lines) and Patagonia. Filippa K is listed as a regional player. Thousand Fell is listed as an emerging player.
Does Ubac Shoes have an API?
No public API is recorded for Ubac Shoes.
What industry is Ubac Shoes in?
Ubac Shoes's product category is Sustainable Footwear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAACAH, Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear, with a secondary code of CRAAACAB, Casual & Lifestyle Footwear. Its NAICS code is 3162 and its SIC code is 5661.