# Subway Sneakers Above + Below London Recycles Old Subway Seats Into Sneaks By Marissa Brassfield | Published 2009-02-13 | Eco Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/above-below-london-subway-sneakers References: [treehugger](http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/02/recycled-fabric-shoes.php) & [aboveandbelowlondon](http://www.aboveandbelowlondon.com/) If you live in London, chances are the patterns on these Above + Below London sneakers look familiar. That's because they're made from recycled seats from the [London Underground](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/the-sustainable-spritz) and London Bus. These [upcycled sneaks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sole-jasper-chukka) feature a recycled fabric upper, [recycled rubber tire soles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/neocurve) and repurposed leather trim. The limited-edition trainers are reassembled in Portugal in fair conditions from 100% salvaged UK waste, according to Above + Below London. **Implications** - Eco-conscious consumers are constantly seeking innovative ways to incorporate green habits into their lifestyles. They appreciate products that are constructed out of recycled materials or upcycled objects as they are progressive in the environmental effort. Companies can manufacture products with these qualities in order to appeal to green demographics. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 12% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 70% men, 30% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Eco](https://www.trendhunter.com/eco) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Upcycled Fashion:** The trend of repurposing and recycling old materials into new clothing and accessories is on the rise, presenting innovative opportunities for sustainable fashion. - **Circular Economy:** The concept of using waste as a resource and keeping materials in use for as long as possible is gaining momentum as businesses look for more sustainable practices. - **Eco-conscious Design:** Designing products with materials that are environmentally friendly and socially responsible appeals to consumers who prioritize sustainability in their purchasing decisions, creating opportunities for companies to innovate in this area. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Fashion:** The fashion industry can capitalize on the trend of upcycled fashion by designing new clothing and accessories from recycled and repurposed materials. - **Transportation:** The transportation industry can explore opportunities to repurpose materials from old vehicles and provide them with a new life in innovative products like the recycled seats used in Above + Below London's sneakers. - **Waste Management:** Creating business models that focus on reducing, reusing, and recycling waste can play a disruptive role in the waste management industry, as it shifts towards circular economy practices. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Textile-to-Textile Recycled Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/allbirds-remix.md) - [Contemporary Upcycled Bright Benches](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remix-maison-1.md) - [Repurposed Waste Transit Tiles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jeffrey-miller.md) - [Discarded Shoe-Created Stools](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wu-series.md) - [Japanese Upcycling Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/flower-mountain-reload-sneakers.md) - [Recycled Rope-Made Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/shore.md) - [Recycled Shoe-Made Furniture](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/remix-maison.md) - [Custom 3D-Printed Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sean-wotherspoon-x-zellerfeld.md) - [Sustainable Modular Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/modular-sneaker-1.md)