Italian sneaker brand ID.EIGHT released a new sustainable food material sneaker collection made from unexpected materials. The brand was founded by footwear designer Dong Seon Lee and product manager Giuliana Borziollo, who both focused on giving the new sneaker collection a mixture of modern and 90s-inspired designs.
The sneakers are made of by-products from the food industry, like apple skin and hearts, grape skin and seeds, and pineapple leaves. Specifically, three types of leather-like materials are made from pineapple leaves from the Philippines and Italian grapes and apples derived from the bio-polymerization of the wine process and the non-edible parts of apples. Every other part of the sneaker is made of recycled materials. The collection comprises two styles, 'Duri' and 'Hana,' in different colors. Hana has a sporty and modern sole and design, while Duri is more classic.
Each purchase comes with a seed bomb in the recycled material shoebox, allowing consumers to plant the seed. The collection is currently available for sale.
Sustainable Food Material Sneakers
ID.Eight Brings 90s-Inspired Sneakers with Food Materials
Trend Themes
1. Sustainable Material Sneakers - Sneaker brands can focus on using sustainable materials like food by-products to create modern and trendy footwear, reducing their carbon footprint.
2. Circular Economy Products - Brands can explore circular economy models by using recycled materials for sneaker production, reducing waste and prioritizing environmental sustainability.
3. Inclusive Fashion - Fashion brands can design inclusive footwear styles for a diverse target market, like ID.EIGHT's modern and classic designs inspired by the 90s and made from sustainable materials such as food by-products.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainable Footwear Manufacturing - Sustainable footwear manufacturing can prioritize the use of by-products from the food industry to create sustainable materials for sneaker production, reducing waste and maximizing resources.
2. Circular Economy - Sneaker brands can focus on adopting circular economy models by using recycled materials for production and practicing responsible waste management, contributing to a more sustainable future.
3. Fashion Retailing - Fashion retailers can prioritize inclusivity in their marketing and product designs, like ID.EIGHT's 90s-inspired modern and classic styles made from sustainable materials, catering to diverse customer needs and promoting environmental sustainability.