FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions

RESLIDES is a Swiss GmbH based in Zurich, Switzerland.

RESLIDES has been in existence since 2021 and is run by the founders Benno and Lars.

The idea for modular sandals arose when Benno was on a six-month sabbatical traveling through Europe in a VW bus and, dissatisfied with the open-toed shoes available on the market, was looking for something suitable. This type of trip, with its constant switching between experiences in scenic highlights and stays in stylish urban centers, demands a certain degree of flexibility, even when it comes to sandals. Flip-flops simply aren't the answer. And considering the market and the dominance of classic cork-footbed sandals, a contemporary alternative is desperately needed.

As a passionate product designer, he simply started designing his own future-proof sandals according to his own ideas.

For every pair of RESLIDES sandals sold, we collect 1 kg of plastic from the environment before it reaches the sea and causes pollution. We do this together with our partner CleanHub. By purchasing a pair of RESLIDES sandals, you are directly supporting the environment and helping to reduce plastic pollution. Further information is available here and from our partner www.cleanhub.com.

In addition, our RESLIDES sandals are 100% recyclable and, thanks to their modular design, can also be repaired. With the option of incorporating different strap colours into a pair of RESLIDES sandals, you only need one pair of sandals for different occasions. This means you need fewer sandals, which saves resources.

Further information about how our sustainability works can be found below in the sections “About circular economy and recycling” and “About CIRCULARITY CREDIT and Takeback”.

The core principle at RESLIDES is the concept of a sustainable circular economy, aiming to retain material resources within the resource cycle after the longest possible product lifecycle. Nature serves as our model – all processes function in closed loops. We are convinced that this is possible without sacrificing fashionable freedom.

The self-replaceability of the components extends the life of RESLIDES sandals, as it is possible to independently adapt (update) components or to repair them without much effort, thus eliminating the need to purchase completely new sandals.

This also means that our products are designed to be recycled at the end of their use. Before individual components are sent for recycling, they are always checked to see if they can be cleaned and reprocessed for a second life. Through optimized material selection and the modular design of our products, efficient recycling after a complete product lifecycle enables the reuse of materials for the manufacture of new products.

In this way we are truly sustainable because we utilize resources for as long as possible, return them to the cycle after use, avoid waste and thus effectively release less CO2 per product unit into the environment.

The components of our RESLIDES sandals are homogeneous, which allows for efficient recycling without the normally necessary and very complex prior separation processes.

The soles are made of highly abrasion-resistant and 100% recyclable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). TPU has excellent flex and tear resistance and is also very weather-resistant. This makes it ideally suited for RESLIDES soles and our commitment to durability and recyclability. After recycling, it is used again to manufacture soles.

The buckles are made from recycled acetal plastic (rPOM). This offers optimal mechanical performance with its excellent combination of strength, toughness, fatigue resistance, and resistance to moisture and chemicals. After use, the selected rPOM can be fully recycled and used to manufacture new buckles.

There will be several strap options. The first version is made of recycled polyester (rPET), chosen primarily for its durability. Polyester is very hard-wearing and also resistant to wear and tear, dirt-repellent, and quick-drying, making it an ideal combination for use as a RESLIDES sandal strap. However, there is currently a drawback regarding the resource cycle: after use, textile polyester is typically processed through mechanical fiber recycling and used for other applications such as nonwovens or insulation material – a form of downcycling. Chemical recycling is becoming increasingly important but is not yet offered on a broad industrial scale. For this reason, we will continue to work on developing strap solutions that are either completely biodegradable or recyclable with minimal loss of quality.

Our OKU.NAI strap, our slipper variant, is made of 100% wool felt and is compostable.

Plastics are particularly problematic when they end up in waste or, even worse, in nature or the ocean. In these cases, they are converted into unnecessary, climate-damaging CO2 through waste incineration, becoming pollutants for natural cycles—our very foundation of life—and a danger to our health.

Generally speaking, replacing raw materials with those made from renewable resources is a common approach to achieving greater sustainability. Examples include paper straws instead of plastic ones, or bamboo toothbrushes. However, when it comes to shoe and sandal production, plastics offer significant advantages in terms of product usability and closing resource loops that other renewable materials currently cannot provide. Therefore, if we had developed sandals made from renewable materials, we would have had to compromise on quality in terms of comfort and everyday usability compared to plastic sandals, and they would have ended up in the trash and been converted into CO2 after a significantly shorter lifespan, as they are not recyclable.

To ensure that you, as consumers, choose genuinely sustainable solutions, we, as a company committed to making a positive contribution to a clean and ecologically sustainable world, must develop products that are truly excellent and convincing. For this reason, we have decided to use plastics for our components. Currently, these plastics are still made from petroleum, which is why we designed RESLIDES sandals so that their components are made from a single material. The modular components can be easily separated because they are neither glued nor sewn together. This material purity, combined with the modularity of the components, allows for 100% recycling. To close the resource loop, we take back your RESLIDES sandals after use, return the Circularity Credit to you, and reintroduce them into the material cycle at our own expense so that new RESLIDES can be made from them. This is how we address the issue of sustainability at RESLIDES – we close the loops of valuable material resources.

Although the generation of micro- or nanoplastics through the abrasion of shoes made from plastic has a relatively small impact at just under 3% compared to 33% from tire abrasion, it still poses a challenge for the entire footwear industry.

Currently, there is no material on the market that is both recyclable and offers the necessary performance for our RESLIDES design and our focus on quality through durability and usability. However, we are constantly monitoring research and material development to take the next step in reducing or avoiding micro- and nanoplastics.

Bio-based plastics, meaning those made from renewable raw materials, already exist on the market, but currently lack the necessary material properties and recyclability, and are not available at an acceptable raw material price. However, as soon as functional and affordable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics become available, we intend to use them in our products.

Research into bio-based plastics for use as sole materials, which are also biodegradable or compostable without producing micro- or nanoplastics, is currently much less advanced. Therefore, for us, the approach via the technical resource cycle, i.e., take-back and recycling, is the most sensible in the medium term.

The process we implement at RESLIDES to close material cycles is called the Resource Recovery Process (RRP) and it includes these steps:

1. the return of the sandals or components by you as a customer to our Collection Hub

1. the administrative and IT processes necessary for the takeback, including generating the return shipping label and processing the payment for vouchers or cashback.

1. storage in our Collection Hubs and subsequent transport to our recycling partners

Implementing the RRP is a key part of our business model and is coordinated by us at RESLIDES and financed by a portion of our margin. We firmly believe that the responsibility for closing material loops should lie with us as a company.

To ensure that end-of-life products or components are actually returned, it's crucial to offer an incentive. Only then can we close material loops and implement the necessary steps of the Recycling Resource Plan (RRP). Our strategy is to create this incentive through a Circularity Credit, which, similar to a deposit, is repaid when products or components are returned after their useful life.

Further information and details about the process can be found at here.

The return and recycling process is an important part of RESLIDES' DNA. There will be two different ways to return our sandals.

Your RESLIDES sandals have now been used so extensively that you would like to return the worn sandals or individual components and ideally exchange them for new ones.

As an incentive to return products, we have introduced the Circularity Credit so that discarded products or components end up back with us and we can close the material cycles.

You have two options to return worn products or components and receive up to 100% of the Circularity Credit back:

Option 1: TRADE IN

Option 2: RETURN AFTER USE

You can find more information in the questions about Circularity Credit below.

The heart of our sandal, the sole, is produced in Italy.

The buckles are made in Switzerland.

The rPET straps in the first collection currently come from China, but we plan to have them produced within Europe in the future. Several sourcing and development projects with European manufacturers and suppliers are already underway for this purpose.

The strap of our house slipper variant, made from 100% wool felt, is manufactured in Germany.

You can find a video in which we show you how to assemble your RESLIDES here, as well as step-by-step instructions with pictures and explanations on the inside of the shipping box in which you received your sandals from us.

Our RESLIDES sandal can be disassembled into three types of components: 1. Sole, 2. Strap, 3. Buckle. The modularity has the following advantages:

1. Easy to change straps (flexibility and variety of colors, patterns or materials) so that your sandals match your outfit and your preferences even as fashion changes. Additional color variants for soles and buckles are also planned in the medium term.
2. If one of the components breaks or is worn out, you can simply replace it and do not have to buy a completely new pair
3. Simplified recycling process because components can be easily separated from each other

RESLIDES sandals represent an innovative approach to rethinking consumption and the use of material resources.

Our RESLIDES sandals offer durability, exceptional comfort, and fashionable flexibility thanks to interchangeable straps, combined with a timelessly simple design. Furthermore, and this is what significantly distinguishes us from other sandals on the market, we offer the first sandals that are not only completely circular (100% recyclable, flexibly adaptable for a maximized lifespan), but are also built on a fully circular business model in which resource cycles are closed and the materials are actually used for new RESLIDES components.

We offer a solution to the dilemma that, based on a linear economy, an estimated 22 billion pairs of shoes worldwide end up in landfills after their useful life and are mostly incinerated. By purchasing our recyclable sandals, you reduce waste, lower CO2 emissions, and conserve resources.

We believe that with innovative products and processes, we can contribute to solving existing global problems so that our children and future generations can also have a livable life on our beautiful planet. Sustainable thinking and action are second nature to us and yet also a constant driving force for innovation. By committing to advancing the circular economy in the fashion industry, we can accelerate the transformation to a sustainable future. We can't do this alone; it requires many other companies and partners, and it requires you as a community who share this vision and are ready to rethink consumption. We are still at the beginning, where not everything is yet as feasible as outlined in our vision, and we can still learn and continuously improve in various areas.

Our travel sandals are minimalist and pack flat, so they easily fit in your hand luggage. Because you can change the straps, one pair of RESLIDES replaces several pairs of sandals – ideal for travelling with limited luggage.

Yes, we plan to regularly release new collections of straps to give you a wide choice as fashion changes.

The modularity of the RESLIDES sandals allows us to have fun in this playground and create a diversity of styles.

Especially when it comes to the material for the straps, we will continue to look for new and exciting solutions that fit into the concept of recyclability or improve it and increase design variability.

We also want to focus on collaborations and develop collections together with artists, designers and other brands in order to promote our circularity mission and the suitability of the modular concept in the world of fashion and lifestyle and thus increase the impact.

RESLIDES are unisex and are available in sizes from EU 37 to EU 46.

Please measure your foot length and use the following table to find the right shoe size for you. We want to avoid unnecessary returns, so it is important to us to send you the right size directly.

Here are a few tips to help you find the perfect size:

1. Take 2-3 of your current sneakers.
2. Find the millimeter/JP* size of these sneakers, as this is their maximum length. (*JP means Japan, the size is in millimeters)
3. Check our size chart taking into account the millimeters and choose the appropriate size.

All our products can be easily cleaned with lukewarm water.

The materials used in our beach sandals are robust, UV-resistant and designed for use with sea water and sand. After a day at the beach, simply rinse your sandals with lukewarm water, leave them to dry briefly, and they'll be ready for their next outing as travel sandals.

The CIRCULARITY CREDIT is intended as an incentive for returning the discarded components and thus closing the resource cycle.

You have two options to return worn products or components and receive up to 100% of the CIRCULARITY CREDIT back.

Option 1: TRADE-IN

If you choose to return your old product and buy a new one, we will honor your trust in our RESLIDES mission and you will receive the CIRCULARITY CREDIT back in full as cashback or, if you prefer, as a voucher.

Option 2: RETURN AFTER USE

If you decide to return old sandals or components without purchasing a new product, you will receive the CIRCULARITY CREDIT as a voucher. Alternatively, we will refund a portion of the amount as cashback.

TRADE IN

After returning used components or a used sandal set and ordering new RESLIDES products , you will receive the following refunds for returning old components:

• Send in your entire used sandal set: 21 CHF/€
• Send in a used pair of insoles: 15 CHF/€ (7.5 CHF/€ per insole)
• Send in a pair of used buckles: 3 CHF/€ (1.5 CHF/€ per buckle)
• Straps: Please dispose of via local textile collection containers/used clothing collection.
  

RETURN AFTER USE

When returning used components or a used sandal set without ordering new RESLIDES products, you will receive the following refunds:

• Send in your entire used sandal set: 12 CHF/€
• Send in a used pair of soles: 8 CHF/€ per pair
• Send in a pair of used buckles: 2 CHF/€ (1 CHF/€ per buckle)
• Straps: Please dispose of via local textile collection containers/used clothing collection.

The plastics TPU (soles) and POM (buckles) require separate collection and recycling processes and cannot be returned to the recycling loop with in-house plastic waste (not suitable for TPU and POM plastics) or at other local collection points.

When TPU and POM plastics end up in household waste, they are separated from other plastics and incinerated. To prevent this from happening with our components, it's important for us to offer our own process for recycling TPU and POM plastics. That's why we mark our soles and buckles with the additional CIRCULARITY CREDIT, which is designed to incentivize customers to return them to us after the product's lifespan.

Our belts are currently made from recycled polyester. An established collection process exists for this material via local textile collection containers or used clothing collection points. The sorted polyester is then recycled by textile recycling companies. Because of this existing collection and recycling infrastructure, we don't consider it practical to send individual worn belts by mail, which would generate additional CO2 emissions. However, if the belts are returned along with other components, meaning shipping is already underway, then we will, of course, accept them back. For this reason, the price of our belts does not include a Circularity Credit.

Our wool felt straps are compostable.

• Complete sandal set (soles + buckles + straps): Yes
• Soles only (possibly with straps or buckles): Yes
• Buckles only (possibly with straps or soles): Yes
• Straps only: No

We generally take back all components – soles, straps, and buckles – after their product life. There is one exception: Returning only straps, i.e., if they are not sent back together with other components, is not sustainable because our straps, which are made of recycled PET or wool felt, can easily be disposed of in textile recycling containers/clothing collections (PET) or composted (wool felt). The PET straps are then recycled and reintroduced into the material cycle.

Because of existing PET recycling processes, we don't think it makes sense to send individual worn belts by mail, which naturally generates costs and CO2. However, if the belts are returned together with other components, and shipping is happening anyway, then of course we will take our belts back.

We accept VISA and Mastercard, TWINT, PayPal and PostFinance direct payment.

The delivery times are:

Switzerland & Germany: 2-3 working days
Austria: 4-5 working days
EU: from 7 working days

Our focus is on an environmentally sound shipping method, not on "Same Day Delivery" at any price.

This means your Swiss sandals with their timeless minimalist design will arrive not ultra-fast, but reliably and in a resource-saving manner – ready for everyday life, city, travel and city trips.

For questions regarding the availability of specific colors or sizes, please contact us at support(at)reslides.ch .

Yes, our RESLIDES sandals are shipped free of charge to Switzerland and Germany. Free shipping is important to us so that we can offer free shipping on RESLIDES sandals to as many customers as possible. Shipping costs may apply to other countries.

When ordering individual components such as belts, we charge shipping costs depending on the country. You can see the amount at checkout.

We reserve the right to make changes.

Once you complete your purchase, your order will automatically proceed to shipping. Therefore, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to change it afterwards.

However, should an error have occurred during the ordering process, please contact us immediately via support(at)reslides.ch and we will see what we can do to avoid unnecessary back-and-forth shipping via a returns process.

The most common reason for returns so far is that the sandals didn't fit well because the straps weren't cut to the correct length. You can find instructions on how to shorten your sandal straps for a perfect fit at the following link: Assembling RESLIDES correctly

If the straps are the correct length, then the buckles will be in the correct position (on the outside) and won't pinch while running.

In case of a return or exchange, please contact us by email at support(at)reslides.ch so we can clarify the matter together. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

We have a returns warehouse in Switzerland and in Germany.

As an EU customer, you can return your RESLIDES within 14 days under the statutory right of withdrawal.

We offer Swiss customers a voluntary 14-day right of return, subject to certain conditions.

You can find the exact deadlines and conditions in our refund policy .

Since we want to minimize returns for environmental reasons, we actively help you choose the right size and adjust the straps so that your resource-saving sandals made from durable materials stay with you for as long as possible.

If something isn't quite right, contact support via support(at)reslides.ch – we'll work together to determine whether an exchange or return is the best option.

Since we at RESLIDES place great importance on operating in the most ecologically sustainable way possible, we do not want to create an incentive that leads to products being bought from us on suspicion because they can be returned free of charge.

And of course, the truth is that return shipping costs have a significant impact on our profitability, and we can only achieve our mission if we operate sustainably. Therefore, we currently do not offer free returns.

We have a returns warehouse in Switzerland and in Germany.

Once we have received your return, you will receive a prompt refund from us.

Please send us an email immediately to support(at)reslides.ch with your full name, your order number, and a specific description of what was damaged or incorrectly delivered.

Important: Please attach a picture of the damage or the incorrect product to your email.

Items that you have in your shopping cart for a short time are reserved for you. If you put items in your shopping cart and come back to the shop later or tomorrow, we cannot guarantee that the items are still available. Especially with our straps, it can happen from time to time that different colors are sold out.

Yes, orders from Germany and the EU are shipped from our warehouse in Germany. Therefore, your RESLIDES order is duty-free. No customs fees will apply.

Orders from Switzerland are shipped from our Swiss warehouse.

On our homepage , as well as on every product page, you will find the option to subscribe to our newsletter at the very bottom.

Save 10% on your first order when you sign up for our newsletter.

Yes, we also offer gift vouchers. You can find them in our shop.

We currently do not offer the option to gift wrap your order. If there is high demand for this, we will consider whether and how it could be incorporated into our concept.

You can save 10% on your first order when you sign up for our newsletter. You can find the sign-up form at the very bottom of the homepage or at the bottom of every product page.

We will announce discounts through our marketing channels on special occasions. To make sure you don't miss out, follow us on Instagram .