Johnston & Murphy Genuine Plantation Crepe

http://www.johnstonmurphy.com/crepe The plantation crepe rubber that we use in the outsoles of our shoes is just as authentic and select as the leathers we use in the uppers. It all starts with rubber tree plantations that are found in tropical climates. The fully mature rubber trees produce natural latex sap or “milk”, which is carefully (and manually) harvested over the course of a tree’s life (which could be up to 30 years), making it a true renewable resource. Once the “milk” is harvested, it then undergoes a natural process by which it is filtered for impurities, coagulated and then pulled through crepe rollers to produce rubber sheets. Once the sheets are dried, they are layered together to create the necessary thickness for the outsole. The unique physical properties of the natural crepe provide many advantages: abrasion resistance for superior wear over time, high elasticity that makes it extremely flexible, resilient rebound for shock absorption, and exceptional comfort.