With over 120 years behind us, the Saucony Jazz Court RFG is a big step toward a more sustainable future in footwear. Carefully crafted using only seven natural materials and zero plastic, the original Natural colorway of the Jazz Court RFG is made with only seven renewable eco-friendly materials: Cotton, jute, wool, rubber, wood, gardenia, and beet. The Black and Green colors of this style are made using one additional natural dye each: gallnut for the Black and mulberry leaf for the Green. It’s proof that good things take time, and that we’re in this thing for good.
Overview
The Jazz Court RFG is made with only seven renewable eco-friendly materials: Cotton, jute, wool, rubber, wood, gardenia, and beet.Beyond the renewable plant-based materials in this style, we were also sure to use humanely raised and sourced wool.We used natural plant dyes to add color to the shoe and beet juice to stamp the sizing information on the insole labels.Each step of the process was adapted to reduce energy and avoid chemical use. For example, using a baking trick, we replaced paint with a mixture of flour and water to mark stitching locations. Once stitching is complete, the water evaporates, and the dried flour dusts off to reveal the finished product.The gum rubber outsole is a hallmark of classic court shoes, and being a natural material, it had to be incorporated into the Jazz Court RFG. We sourced 100% Lactae Hevea (milk from the rubber plant). Daily use and exposure to the elements causes its appearance to gradually evolve, making each pair more unique over time.We employed a true sidewall stitch to attach the upper to the midsole without the use of synthetic adhesives, so while the shoes are durable, they won’t last forever. Which is exactly what we intended.We replaced pen or marker with chalk to naturally mark and align the shoe’s upper and midsole before attaching them together.We designed a more sustainable and shippable shoebox for this style using 100% recycled cardboard and no ink, so be sure to look for subtle embossed branding. The shoebox label is made of kraft paper with soy-based ink.To further minimize packaging materials, the shoes will ship without paper stuffing—just a 100% recycled cardboard “S” divider to help keep their shape in transit.
