Sustainable Footwear news and archive

Helen Kirkum to close studio at the end of 2025

British footwear and accessories designer Helen Kirkum, who became known for her pioneering approach to sustainable footwear by creating bespoke shoes from old trainers, has announced she is closing her studio at the end of the year. In a social media post, Kirkum said: “After eight years, Helen Kirkum Studio is coming to a close at the end of...

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Fashion |Interview

Footwear designer to watch: Annie Purdy

British footwear design is undergoing a revival, and it is being led by a new crop of designers looking to place innovation, craftsmanship and sustainability at the core of their designs. Leading the resurgence is recent London College of Fashion (LCF) and Royal College of Art graduate Annie Purdy, who was awarded the Sustainable Development...

Fashion |In Pictures

FCTRY LAb collaborates with Collina Strada on innovative boot

Los Angeles-based, Black-led footwear innovation studio FCTRY LAb has unveiled a footwear collaboration with sustainable fashion brand Collina Strada, founded by Hillary Taymour. The RUFL boot, which debuted during Collina Strada's recent New York Fashion Week catwalk show, is described as a “one-of-a-kind boot,” combining disruptive design and...

Fashion

Balena unveils biodegradable 3D printed shoes with Kitty Shukman

Material science company Balena, which is developing advanced biodegradable polymer materials, has unveiled a 3D-printed footwear collaboration with designer Kitty Shukman. Working with Balena's BioCir material, the first fully compostable and biodegradable elastomer for the fashion industry, Shukman has created a unique 3D-printed concept slide...

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Fashion |In Pictures

Allbirds unveils the world’s first net-zero carbon shoe

Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds have unveiled what it is calling the world’s first net zero carbon shoe alongside an entire toolkit to allow the rest of the footwear industry to copy its innovation. The high-top ‘M0.0NSHOT' boasts a carbon footprint of net 0.0 kg CO2e, which is about 14 kg CO2e based on the brand’s calculations that it adds...

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Business

LØCI secures investment from Leonardo DiCaprio

British vegan sneaker brand LØCI has raised 4 million pounds, including investment from actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, to continue disrupting the industry with its sneakers “rooted in purpose, style, and sustainability”. The 15-month-old start-up, which offers 100 percent vegan leather sneakers with a sleek aesthetic made from...

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Fashion

Allbirds launches first plant-based leather sneaker

Sustainable footwear brand Allbirds has unveiled its latest innovation, the ‘Plant Pacer’ sneaker featuring 100 percent plastic-free plant leather made from all-natural materials such as rubber and plant oils. The ‘Plant Pacer’ marks a further step into the lifestyle footwear category for Allbirds, while also championing what it calls a “truly...

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Fashion |In Pictures

Allbirds launches new sustainable running shoe

Allbirds is continuing to push the boundaries of sustainable footwear with its new Tree Flyer running shoe that has a carbon footprint of just 9.92-kilogram CO2e, all of which is offset to zero. The Tree Flyer is a cushioned running shoe, which has been designed to showcase Allbirds’ innovative technology, use of renewable natural materials, and...

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Fashion |In Pictures

Dune founder launches sustainable trainer brand Lerins

Daniel Rubin, who founded footwear retailer Dune, has launched a new British brand Lerins focused on sustainable trainers. Inspired by the unspoilt Lérins Islands, located off the coast of the French Riviera, Lerins is a new conscious trainer brand designed in London and made in Portugal with materials sourced in Europe. Lerins is launching...

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Fashion |In Pictures

Hunter launches footwear made from algae

Hunter has launched summer footwear made from algae, sourced using a process that cleans up natural waterways whilst saving water and reducing CO2 emissions in partnership with Bloom Materials. The new Hunter sandals and slides are the latest step from the brand towards positive environmental change through its Hunter Protect strategy and are...

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Business

Havaianas owner Alpargatas invests in Rothy’s

Digital-first sustainable footwear brand Rothy’s has confirmed that Alpargatas, the Brazilian lifestyle brand and owner of Havaianas will acquire 49.9 percent of the business in a two-step transaction. The strategic investment from Alpargatas will include an investment of 200 million US dollars in primary capital followed by an offering to...

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Fashion

B_Boheme relaunches with new design aesthetic and made-to-order model

Premium vegan footwear brand B_Boheme is relaunching a new design aesthetic with a curated edit available as made-to-order to further increase the brand’s focus on minimising waste and increasing its sustainable production methods. The new-look B_Boheme features a bespoke edit of three key styles available as made-to-order, a flat shoe, a...