Ortholite Announces Partnership With Casual Outdoor Leather Shoe Brand Oliberté

Oliberté shoes to feature OrthoLite insoles in all shoe models

Amherst, Mass. (August 12, 2013) – OrthoLite, the leader of open cell foam insoles, announced today a partnership with Oliberté, a premium casual outdoor leather shoe brand crafted in Africa. OrthoLite insoles are now in all styles of Oliberté men’s and women’s shoes, available for purchase in retailers throughout the U.S. and Canada, including Town Shoes, REI, Nordstrom, EMS, Backcountry, and online at www.oliberte.com.

Oliberté products are made in an ethical and sustainable responsible factory in Ethiopia. Oliberté uses rubber tapped straight from rubber trees to avoid toxic equipment and chemicals, requires all of its leather tanneries to have water treatment plants that are regularly inspected and offers three-way shipping for consumers to return their used shoes for recycling.

“OrthoLite and Oliberté are two brands that value sustainable products and we are pleased to align ourselves with a company that is eco-conscious in each step of its manufacturing and exporting process,” said Pamela Gelsomini, OrthoLite president. “OrthoLite is a smart addition to enhance the performance of the Oliberté breathable, comfortable shoes.”

Oliberté shoes are handcrafted by skilled artisans who use natural rubber outsoles, handpicked leather, and goat lining; each shoe uses an average of 1,000 stitches. Now with the inclusion of OrthoLite insoles, Oliberté consumers will feel long-term cushioning and comfort in a high-quality shoe.

“As a brand made in Africa, we utilize local materials; but when we cannot find a suitable option, we find the best material from companies that adhere to our social and environmental requirements,” said Tal Dehtiar, Oliberté founder/owner. “For premium insoles, OrthoLite was the right choice for us because it enhances our products’ durability and comfort.

To celebrate this partnership, Oliberté and OrthoLite will host a Twitter sweepstakes between July 30- August 6, 2013. To enter, participants must craft a tweet including both @Oliberté and @OrthoLite  twitter handles explaining why they want to try a pair of Oliberté shoes with OrthoLite insoles. Two winners will be randomly selected and OrthoLite will notify winners with a Twitter direct message requesting address and shoe size. Sweepstakes is limited to consumers who live in the U.S. and Canada, age 18 or older.

About OrthoLite: OrthoLite, headquartered in Amherst, Mass., is the world’s leading supplier of open cell foam insoles found in more than 120 million shoes each year, including Asics, Carhartt, New Balance, Merrell, Nike, Puma, Vans, and Timberland. OrthoLite combines polyurethane and recycled rubber to provide superior cushioning, comfort, breathability and durability. OrthoLite insoles can now be purchased through a partnership with Amazon. For every pair of insoles sold, OrthoLite will donate $1 to the Level Field Fund, a grant-giving program that strives to bridge gaps in funding to uniquely talented athletes. To purchase insoles or for more information, please visit www.ortholite.com.

About Oliberté: Oliberté was founded in 2009, by Tal Dehtiar with the concept of creating sustainable jobs in Africa building rugged casual footwear and goods.  Oliberté opened its own ethically responsible factory in August 2012 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  The footwear is handmade using natural rubber outsoles, hand picked natural leather and is made using an average of 1,000 stitches.   Materials are currently sourced from Liberia, Kenya, Mauritius, South Africa, and Ethiopia, and handcrafted by skilled artisans who are treated fairly.  Oliberté is headquartered in Oakville, Canada with warehousing in Mississauga, ON, Buffalo, NY, and Rye, UK. Oliberté is sold throughout the world at the best specialty retailers and available online at www.oliberte.com.