responsibility commitment

At Marcus Alexander, responsibility is a mindset — not a destination.

This mindset embodies our optimistic intent and grounds our ethos —

progress not perfection


Fashion can be a beautiful outlet for expression, passion, and creativity.

However, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the issues that plague the industry.

The detriment to the environment, lack of diversity & representation, and harmful consumption practices are issues we want to combat.

We strive to put consistent action behind initiatives that will have tangible impact —

for us, our customers, and the world.

 

Marcus Alexander Recycling Program

Marcus Alexanders are made with high quality materials and we take pride in our craftsmanship so each shoe stands the test of time. However, inevitably, all good things come to an end and they reach the end of their lifecycle.

We created the Marcus Alexander Recycling Program to keep the impact to the environment as low as possible through our shoes entire lifecycle.

Here’s how you can participate in the Marcus Alexander Recycling Program:

1. Email us at info@marcus-alexander.com and we’ll send you a shipping label — and then pour one out for the homies.

2. Say your goodbyes, pack up your Marcus Alexanders, and send them back to us. Once received, we will break them down, sort the recyclable and non-recyclable elements, and send them to the appropriate facilities.

3. Your shine can’t and won’t stop — at least not on our watch! After we receive your retired pair of shoes, we will send you a $50 credit toward your next pair of Marcus Alexanders!

 
 

Partners

We take pride not only in our designs, but also the people we choose to work beside.

Marcus Alexander is a labor of love and Team MA, our development & production partners, creatives, and business advisors & consultants, collectively bring this brand to life.

Our partners form a melting pot — where we all come together, authentically, to create something beautiful and enduring.

Craftsmanship is a top priority to us, but not at the expense of ethics, humanity, and dignity.

All of our production partners are all amfori BSCI certified — an initiative that aims to monitor and assess workplace standards across the global supply chain.

 

Sourcing

We believe in creating enduring, timeless designs that are heirloom worthy.

Sourcing beautiful materials that meet our quality standards is no easy feat. We spend countless hours seeking out product components that aren’t just beautiful, but are durable. This approach extends the life of each pair of Marcus Alexanders — our goal is they will become your go-to staple for years to come.

 
 

Inventory

Manufacturers and retailers generate around 13 million tons of textile waste every year.

This is mostly the result of overproduction: every season about 30% of the clothes produced are never sold. Where possible, these are not statistics we want to contribute to.

With a small batch, needs-based business model, we are committed to not overproducing and creating excessive inventory. Given this commitment, products and sizes may sellout.

Our development and production cycle takes about 7 months — which means restocks take time. Seasonal colors and collaborations are also less likely to be restocked. After a style sells out, understanding the potential demand is vital for our reorders. If you missed out on a style in your size, add yourself to our Waitlist — helps us know what our customers are “voting” for.

Additionally, since we aim not to overproduce and create excessive inventory, we rarely have excess stock to offload — which means we are not very promotional. All of our products are made with high quality materials and craftsmanship so our prices reflect their value.

As a small business, we hope our customers see the value in this approach and we appreciate that support!

 

Responsibility FAQ

We love chatting about our commitment.

If you have additional questions, drop us a line!

  • Marcus Alexanders are designed in California (where Marcus Thomas resides with his family). They are mostly manufactured by a boutique, woman-owned factory located in Dongguan, within the Guangdong Province of China. We also do some production in the EU and other parts of China.

  • We source high quality materials to make each pair of Marcus Alexanders enduring and heirloom worthy.

    We mostly work with the materials below:

    • Waxed Calfskin

    • Burnished Suede


    • Brushed Nubuck


    • Bonded Neoprene


    • Military-Grade Washed Nylon

    • Nylon Webbing

    • Waxed Cotton

    Please note this list is not exhaustive. For information on a specific style, please reference the materials listed on each product page.

  • We currently do not leverage vegan leathers in our collection. However, we would be excited to use them in the future depending on production advancements in the industry.

    While in research and development, we discovered that nearly all vegan leathers are made with plastics derived from fossil fuels.

    Given this dependence on fossil fuels for production, the microplastic particles that come from the plastics, and the fact that they aren’t recyclable, at the moment, we have opted out of using vegan leathers.

    There are brilliant minds in the fashion industry making groundbreaking sustainable strides every day. Our hope is to take advantage of these advancements one day!