Casca Designs Inc.

Casca designs and develops footwear that is made partly from recycled materials. The shoes’ upper knit is made from the company’s “Avro Recycled Knit”, which is developed from 100% post-consumer plastic bottles. The company sources its leather from a sustainability-certified company called Leather Working Group. Casca’s other sustainability-oriented efforts include its water-based, low-energy Ultraviolet (UV) treatment process that allows for 70% of the water to be recycled on-site, and its shoebox packaging, which is made using recycled and bio-based materials.

The company operates via an online platform and a physical store in Vancouver, Canada. As of March 2024, Casca ships its products to more than 50 countries across several continents including South America, North America, Europe, and Asia.

In August 2023, Casca was acquired by Unity Brands for an undisclosed amount, and the two companies aim to expand Casca into new markets and expand its product offerings.

Key customers and partnerships

In September 2021, Casca collaborated with Volvo Cars Canada to launch a limited-edition sneaker inspired by Volvo’s pure electric car, VolvoxC40 Recharge, which also uses recycled materials. The sustainable sneaker follows a “Scandinavian design” using recycled materials where 10% of its sole is made of recycled car tires, and the upper part carries a yarn made using seven plastic bottles. 

Funding and financials

In November 2019, Casca raised CAD 4.7 million (approximately USD 3.8 million) in a funding round led by Khosla Ventures.