3Mins Read Iconic Nike sneakers could soon be made out of a regenerative material that actually captures more emissions than it needs to be produced. Partnering with Californian biotech Newlight Technologies, the sportswear giant is now exploring the use of AirCarbon to replace plastic and leather materials in everything from bags and wallets—and maybe even Air Force […]
3Mins Read Pangaia, the London-based sustainable fashion brand, has just added two new 100% bio-based alternatives to its material line-up. The new “PlntFiber” and “FrutFiber” fabrics are made from blends of plant and agricultural waste, and new products containing these fibres will feature QR-code “digital passports” so customers can see how sustainable their garments are. London-based startup […]
4Mins Read Shoppers in China are turning away from traditional leather and are instead eyeing novel “next-gen” animal-free leather alternatives. In a new consumer poll, 90% of urban Chinese consumers said they prefer leather alternatives over their conventional counterparts, an indication of the lucrative business opportunities that lie ahead for material innovators in the world’s fastest-growing major […]
4Mins Read Lululemon’s iconic leggings might soon be made using plant-based bio-nylon instead of the synthetic version that it’s currently made from. Partnering with Genomatica, the biotech making renewable materials, Luluemon is going to create a new lower-impact nylon from plant-based materials in order to reduce the percentage of polluting synthetic fibres it uses right now. Lululemon […]
3Mins Read Oatly saw an increase in earnings and is ramping up production to meet demand even as controversial legal battles plague the oat milk brand.
4Mins Read Outdoor and sporting goods company, REI Co-op has launched its first eco outdoor footwear line, two hiking hybrid shoes dubbed Flash and Traverse. The hiking boots are made entirely out of biobased and various recycled materials. U.S.-based REI, which has been a member-owned co-op since 1938, offers a range of sporting goods, camping gear, travel […]
3Mins Read Aussie casual footwear UGG unveiled The Plant Power Collection, a vegan and sustainable shoe line that foregoes animal fur for carbon-neutral materials such as Hevea rubber, renewable sugarcane, and natural hemp, and we’re loving it The Fluff Sugar Platform and Fluff Sugar Sandal feature a SugarSole outsole developed from sugarcane, a renewable crop that is […]
5Mins Read The vegan and mainstream media everywhere is awash with headlines about plant-based leathers. Here at Green Queen we have covered many of these new companies and brands, from cactus leather handbags to grape skin sneakers to upcycled pineapple waste, celebrating their vegan-friendly credentials. For most people trying to avoid animal products, it’s exciting to be […]
3Mins Read Genomatica, the startup innovating sustainable materials, has just closed a $118 million Series C round. The funding will go towards expanding its portfolio of plant-based biomaterials, which aims to replace the use of fossil fuel-based textiles. Genomatica will soon be welcoming its second factory built using its tech, which will triple the global production capacity […]
4Mins Read Biotech company Bucha Bio is helping the textile industry ditch the use of plastics and petrochemicals by offering a biobased vegan leather.
3Mins Read Biotech startup FabricNano is tackling the plastic problem with funding from Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Harry Potter star Emma Watson.
The eco sneaker space? It’s booming with innovation, with designers now using waste to create new shoes.
Sustainable fashion is all the rage right now. Brands are launching everything from low-carbon vegan kicks to recycled underwear. Here, we spotlight some of our favourite upcycled sneakers to date.
Source: Undo For Tomorrow
1. Undo For Tomorrow: upcycled party balloons and rubber tyres
Lisbon-based Undo For Tomorrow are creating their sustainable sneakers out of upcycled party balloons. Yes, those pesky bits of tiny plastic fragments are being turned into colourful soles for the brand’s Nuven shoe. Plus, the company also uses discards from rubber tyres that would otherwise be tossed in the landfill.
Source: Good News / H&M
2. Good News: upcycled banana and grape skins
Good News have partnered with Swedish fast-fashion giant H&M to create a unisex collection of retro-style sneakers. These kicks use Banantex, a durable and waterproof fibre extracted from banana plants. It also features the plant-based leather Vegea, which is made from grape skins leftover from wine production.
Source: Pangaia
3. Pangaia: upcycled grapes and industrial waste
London brand Pangaia are also using upcycled grape skins, stalks and seeds from the wine industry to make their zero-waste sneakers. But in addition to that, they’re repurposing industrial waste to make the rubber soles of the shoe. Even the ends of their laces are made using upcycled plastic ends (and stuck together with bio-based glue).
Source: Thousand Fell
4. Thousand Fell: upcycled corn and recovered plastic
Thousand Fell, a startup in New York, is turning corn waste into new shoes. Yes, corn waste is used to make the bio-based resin that coats the sneakers, making them durable and water-resistant. Thousand Fell has also incorporated plastic waste, coconut husks and fibre from palm leaves to make their minimalist sneakers.
Source: Nike
5. Nike: upcycled factory scraps and tees
Of course, sneaker giant Nike is jumping on the trend too. Last year, the company debuted its Space Hippie collection featuring vegan fabrics and upcycled materials made from recovered plastic bottles and textile factory waste. That means t-shirts and yarn scraps are being given a new life in these ultra-modern kicks.