Sylven New York launched the Mel sneaker on Earth Day as the first vegan sneaker made from apples and coconut. Handcrafted in Italy from apple leather that makes the most of apple waste, coconut husks and renewable rubber made from tree sap, the plant-based sneakers offer a refreshing take on traditional sneaker silhouettes with sustainable materials. The sneakers are available in two styles: white with red accents and black with natural stitching.
To emphasize the fact that the sneakers are made using natural and edible materials, the brand collaborated with Chrissy Tracey—Bon Appétit’s first vegan chef—to create a custom vegan apple and coconut cobbler recipe. Casey Dworkin, Sylven New York Founder and Creative Director, says "We love to play with materials that sound like they could be ingredients. It was such a natural fit to work with someone like Chrissy to play even further into the apple and coconut combo."
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Sustainable Fashion
- The use of apple and coconut waste to create vegan sneakers opens up opportunities for sustainable fashion.
- Plant-based Materials
- The use of apple leather and coconut husks for the creation of shoes shows the potential for innovation in plant-based materials.
- Circular Economy
- The use of waste materials to create the Mel sneaker highlights the emerging trend of circular economy in the fashion industry.
Where This Applies
- Fashion
- This trend showcases the potential for innovation in sustainable fashion.
- Food
- The collaboration with a vegan chef highlights the significant links between food and sustainable fashion.
- Sustainability
- The emergence of sustainable materials in the fashion industry indicates a need for disruption and innovation in the sustainability sector.
