Known for crafting sustainable garments, lifestyle brand PANGAIA sees itself more as an eco-friendly global collective than a fashion label.
After launching its inaugural collection of athleisurewear in 2018, loungewear connoisseurs PANGAIA has decided to expand its lauded product lineup by introducing its first-ever sneaker crafted from plant-based “leather” and recycled rubber.
Focusing on how to help save the environment, PANGAIA often calls upon scientists, designers, and technologists to help create sustainable products such as this zero-waste sneaker. The eco-friendly footwear model features a minimalist style that utilizes waste generated from the Italian wine industry.
According to PANGAIA, the global wine industry creates 26 billion litres of wine each year, and in doing so, results in 6.5 billion litres of waste in the form of grape stalks, skins, and seeds. Taking this waste, the label was able to repurpose it and turn the runoffs into an environmentally-friendly leather alternative, which is the material used to make their new sneaker.
The comfy, low-top sneaker is handmade at a local family factory in Italy using minimal water and vegetable tanning alternatives and arrives in two monochromatic colorways of stealthy black and a more demure white. Even the laces and stitching keeps up with the tonal look. 100% recycled rubber, made from industrial waste samples, prototypes, and rejected products, is used to create the sole, while natural cotton laces with 100% recycled plastic at the ends are also used.
The upper material is sewn into the fabric on the bottom to create a sock-like feeling used in most athletic shoes. Additionally, the lightweight and breathable shoes are made in an orthopedic center and have extra support for the arch of the foot, assuring the utmost comfort and support for its wearers.
Branding comes in on the rear lateral portion in PANGAIA’s signature font, which announces the sneaker’s sustainable production methods. The block of text highlights the footwear model’s composition of grape leather, and the sole being crafted from recycled rubber. Lastly, the text spotlights the sneaker’s circular production and design.
PANGAIA’s zero-waste, grape “leather” sneaker is currently available for pre-order. The sneaker retails for $245 USD (approximately $322 CAD) and will start shipping on November 6.
All images in this article are courtesy of PANGAIA.
