Contact Us
About Us
MENU
Our Brand
Modernizing classic, casual shoes and blending them with the comfort of athletic footwear.
Learn morePartnerships
Constantly exploring new ways to reduce our carbon footprint & support local communities.
Learn moreWorkshop
Each product tells a story – a tale of dedication and an unwavering commitment to excellence.
Learn moreBorn in 2001 in Los Angeles
About Us
Founded in 2001 by footwear and fashion industry veteran Sung Choi, CLAE was established out of the need for a new approach to footwear: modernizing classic, casual shoes and blending them with the comfort of athletic footwear.
We share an authentic passion for footwear and offer long-lasting products with thoughtful consideration of minimizing our environmental impact.
In such an innovative industry, comfort, quality, and the highest manufacturing standards for our timeless footwear are at the forefront of our design philosophy.
A genuine passion for sneakers
Our Values
The materials selection is a crucial step in the making of our shoes. We select premium leathers from certified tanneries by the Leather Working Group. We are constantly innovating to find sustainable Vegan alternatives to traditional leather.
All our Vegan materials are organic such as GOTS certified organic cotton or GRS-certified and made from 70% recycled fibers. We are proud to have pioneered the very first sneaker made out of cactus and continue using bio-based alternatives with the launch of our first capsule made out of apple.
committed to durability and style
Our Mission
CLAE has pioneered classic footwear with meticulous attention to detail and is always committed to durability and style. Part of that commitment is to produce sustainable and eco-friendly offerings, including plant-based products using Cactus and Apple. We continually evolve, endure, set an example for the industry, and create products that are good for you and the environment.
Less is more & quality is everything
CLAE FOR ALL WALKS OF LIFE
CLAE is also the idea of a community full of vitality committed to ecological issues, which resonates with our partners, such as ISA TanTec, the leader in sustainable leather innovations. This year, we continue collaborating to move forward and offer materials that make sense.
Thus, the name CLAE was born from the word “clay”, the same raw material that is molded by movement and perception.
Learn more about our initiatives
CLAE Journal
CLAE Perspectives: Jeff Yamazaki
Jeff Yamazaki is a digital content creator who splits his time between Los Angeles and Tokyo. A longtime friend of CLAE, Jeff has genuinely embraced our brand values from the start.
Read more
Rooted in the laid-back lifestyle of Southern California, this collaboration reimagines the Deane, a unisex sneaker designed for movement, comfort, and eco-conscious craftsmanship.
Read more
Discover how VEGEA and CLAE are revolutionizing sustainable fashion with vegan shoes made from wine industry byproducts. Learn about eco-friendly materials, circular economy innovations, and the fu...
Read more