Sustainable footwear is joining the retail mix at Bridgeport Village. Rothy’s is opening a store this fall at 7301 SW Bridgeport Rd, according to the mall’s leasing announcements, bringing its washable, recycled material shoes and bags to Tigard shoppers for the first time.
Founded in San Francisco in 2012, Rothy’s built its name on a 3D knitting process that turns thread made from recycled plastic water bottles directly into finished shoes, cutting down on the material waste typical of traditional cut-and-sew manufacturing. The company has grown its recycling efforts even further in recent years, now accepting customers’ worn out shoes in exchange for a discount, then breaking them down into what it calls twice recycled thread for future products.
The brand’s product lineup has expanded well past its original ballet flats to include loafers, sneakers, boots and a full line of bags, wallets and accessories, all built around the same machine washable, sustainable design philosophy. Rothy’s operates more than a dozen stores across the country, and this location would give it its first true foothold in the Portland area.
For Bridgeport Village, the addition fits a broader retail trend of pairing sustainability minded brands with higher foot traffic centers, betting that shoppers already drawn in by furniture and home goods will also stop for shoes and accessories along the way.
