Eco-friendly sneaker maker Allbirds Inc. opened a new retail store and community center at the Garden State Plaza in Paramus on Friday. It is the brand’s first store in New Jersey and 35th globally, with locations across North America, Asia and Europe.
The new 3,140-square-foot space speaks to the brand’s sustainable focus, which has driven its development and use of natural materials in replacement of petroleum-based synthetic fibers.
The new location includes nods to the local community with Jersey Shore shoelaces, a unique pin design inspired by the Jersey Shore boardwalk and limited-edition Allbirds New Jersey reusable tote bags.
Allbirds was founded in 2015 by co-CEOs Joseph Zwillinger and Timothy Brown, a former New Zealand soccer player. The duo researched and tinkered with the properties of merino wool to craft a fabric made specifically for footwear; it has since evolved to include a eucalyptus tree fiber knit fabric and a sugarcane-based EVA foam, SweetFoam. In 2019, Allbirds became 100% carbon neutral through a self-imposed carbon tax, and, in 2020, the brand began labeling all products with a carbon footprint. Customers can see the carbon footprint of each product clearly displayed.
Last week, Allbirds said it is targeting a valuation of as much as $2.2 billion in its initial public offering. The brand said it is offering 19.2 million shares priced between $12 and $14. At the high end of that range, Allbirds would bring in roughly $269 million in its market debut.
Allbirds has yet to give a date for its IPO.
