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Settled by the promoter
Ballūta
Porto, PT
instalment
monthly
term
5 years
yearly interest
5.5%
risk rating
C+
Sustainable luxury footwear.
Description
Ballūta’s mission is to create shoes that respect animal rights and protect biodiversity and ecosystems. This is why all their shoes are vegan, excluding all animal-derived materials like leather, fur, wool, silk, bees wax, feathers or animal-based glues, which guaranteed the promoter the "PETA-approved Vegan” certification. The constant search for high standard materials with a low carbon footprint is part of Ballūta’s DNA, which is why the brand mostly uses materials that are produced in Europe, and that comply with high sustainability and labour standards while producing minimal waste. To this constant search for sustainable and innovative resources is joined manufacturing of excellence in Portugal.
The goal of this project is to fund Ballūta expansion to new and bigger markets, such as New York City or Milan. The funds will be mostly used in marketing, communication and research. The predicted actions are as follows:
- Public Relations and Media agency in New York in order to guarantee they are featured in magazine articles, specialized websites, showrooms and other events connected to sustainable fashion
- Communication campaigns in media outlets such as Vogue UK
- Specialized digital marketing
- Influencer marketing on social media
- Participation in international fairs (such as Mican Milano 2019) – costs with transportation (people and products, accommodation, room rental)
- Spring Summer 2020 advertising campaign that should be presented in Milan in specialized media in September 2019
- Other prospect actions in strategical markets
- Market research
The Impact
Ballūta’s core mission is to encourage sustainable and responsible consumption and production patterns.
The brand is an advocate for animal wellbeing and the protection of biodiversity, which is why they produce vegan shoes with no animal-derived materials, such as leather, fur, wool, silk, bees wax, feathers or animal-based glues.
They put in a big effort in promoting responsible and conscious consumption by creating fashion that is trans-seasonal and that their customers can cherish for a long time. Their designs can cross hemispheres seamlessly. Every year, they launch a new collection, while every style created before remains available.
Also embedded in the brand’s DNA is a constant search for the best eco-friendly, man-made and natural raw materials available with the lowest carbon footprint possible. The great majority of materials they use are certified and produced in the EU, helping reduce their carbon footprint by sourcing locally and reassuring them that they comply with sustainability and labour standards as well as producing minimal waste.
Ballūta business model is completely aligned with the 12th Sustainable Development Goal of the United Nations: to Ensure Sustainable consumption and production patterns. They are contributing to improving the number of countries with sustainable consumption and production and to reducing material footprint, per capita and per GDP.
Contribution to the Sustainable
Development Goals
Sustainable Development Goals
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The Promoter
About CPRD, Lda
Ballūta’s promoter is CPRD, Lda. The brand is committed to creating luxurious and designer footwear in a sustainable way. Created in 2018 by Catarina Pedroso, its production is exclusively done by a family-run factory in São João da Madeira, Portugal, under safe and dignified working conditions. Their shoes are made from high-quality sustainable materials and are 100% animal-free. Ballūta believes that the future of fashion is circular, and so they are dedicated to developing trans-seasonal, timeless footwear, combining unique concepts, alternative materials and innovative technologies. Their mission is to “operate a modern and responsible business, by constantly challenging and pushing boundaries to protect and respect nature, animals and people”. Ballūta is the archaic origin of the Portuguese word for acorn – bolota. Its meaning represents the promoters’ belief in responsible practices and the effort they put into creating shoes “the better way”.
The team
Susana Gomes da Costa
Catarina Pedroso
From inception to a successful launch, Catarina founded, led, and served as Creative Director of Balluta, a vegan footwear brand. Also developed the brand concept, identity, and aesthetic vision, from the research and design phase to production tech packs and campaign art direction.
Business Model
Ballūta’s production is exclusively done by a family-run factory in São João da Madeira, Portugal. The company's main markets are mostly European countries knowing their product shipment structure. However, they also ship to Australia, soma Asian countries (China, Singapore) and some American countries (USA, Brazil). In the beginning of 2019, they scored 4,96 out of 5,00 on their application to Portugal 2020. The goal of this credit line is to help small medium enterprises be more competitive. In Ballūta’s case this funding will help their international expansion.
Active since
2018
Fiscal country
PT
Operating In
Porto
Industry
Apparel
Number of Goparity Loans
1
Women Shareholders
Yes
Updates
2024-01-13
Project End
This project has successfully reached its payments plan maturity. All investors have received their full capital invested and interest. Nevertheless, its impact will keep growing for many more years!
2021-11-12
Change in risk classification
This project has received the risk classification R, due to the fact that its loan restructuring (which happened on May 12th 2021) implied an increase of the loan term of at least 12 months.
2021-05-12
Loan terms were restructured
Given the difficulties arising from the continuing Coronavirus pandemic, the promoter has requested the introduction of a 12 month grace period as well as a 12 month extension of the loan's term.
2020-05-11
Loan terms were restructured
The recent COVID-19 outbreak led to a partial stop on the Balluta operation, leading to cash flow difficulties. For this reason, the promoter requested the introduction of a 6 month grace period for the capital amortization and a 6 month project extension. All investors agreed and the loan restructuring was implemented.
2020-01-14
Neonyt Berlin Runway with Balluta Shoes.
Vogue Germany covered their presence on Neonyt Runway, the sustainable branch of Berlin Fashion Week. From the 30 models, 5 were using Balluta shoes.
2019-11-11
Credit from Portugal 2020
Credit from Portugal 2020 Program to help small medium enterprises be more competitive. Classification of 4,96/5.00.
2019-09-10
Vogue Portugal
Ballūta brand and shoes were featured in Vogue Portugal.
2019-08-21
Vogue Ukraine
Ballūta brand and shoes were featured in Vogue Ukraine.
2019-08-20
Vogue China
Ballūta brand and shoes were featured in Vogue China.
2019-07-20
Helsinki Fashion Week
Helsinki Fashion Week is the only 100% animal free fair in the world. Balluta shoes were featured on Voranida Rujekitnara runway, a known sustainable stylist. Moreover, the event organizer asked the brand to use photos of their collection Algae II on their outdoor posters that were spread across the city.
2019-07-13
1st payment
First instalment was paid to all the investors
2019-06-06
100% funded
2019-05-30
Open for investment
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