http://blogs.independent.co.uk/independent/2008/06/draft-blackspot.html

Three years ago, before "ethical" and "green" were in any way fashionable, and not very many people were thinking "who exactly stitched my clothes together?", the people at Adbusters were quietly raging at the injustices of the fashion industry.

Actually, they weren't that quiet. Vociferously against the use of sweatshops, they started the Blackspot campaign, which amongst other things, encouraged people to obscure offending brand logos with a black spot. But that didn't quite change the state of the industry. So they came up with their own shoes - an "anti-brand", if you will. And now over 25,000 people are wearing their "earth-friendly, anti-sweatshop and cruelty-free" sneakers and boots that sport a black spot instead of a brand name.

The factory they use is a Portuguese union shop which has been owned by the same family for three generations: the working conditions are outlined clearly on the Blackspot site, which include working hours from 8am to 6pm with a lunch of 1.5hours, pay over the minimum wage, and unlimited free consultations with a doctor who visits the factory twice a week.

And the shoes themselves? First of all, they look good, so you won't be sacrificing style here.

There are two styles, the Blackspot Sneaker and the Blackspot Boot. Designed by the Canadian designer John Fluevog (not known over here so much, but a big noise Stateside), they're made using 100 per cent organic hemp; the sneaker's rubber sole and toecap are 70 per cent biodegradable, while the sole of the boot (the "Unswoosher", as they call it - see what they're getting at?) is made from salvaged car tyres. The red marks and white "anti-logo" are hand painted, the soles are stitched, and it's all carefully checked by the UK's Robin Webb of Vegetarian Shoes to make sure everything complies with vegan standards.

If you buy them directly from Blackspot online, they cost from $100 (Canadian) including shipping, but there are four independent outlets in the UK selling them, too, which is probably an easier option. All profits (aside from any mark-up the independent retailers may put on them) go back into the campaigns of Adbusters, the not-for-profit organisation that came up with Blackspot. (Have a look at their magazine, too, it's worth a read).