-By Ankita Dutta
Adidas has launched a new sandal made with animal-free materials as part of its vegan shoe collection. The EQT93 “Plant and Grow” sandals feature a colour palette inspired by nature and community gardening projects. Adidas states that the sandals have “a speckled rubber sole that mimics the texture of soil, earthy colours and a ‘plant and grow’ logo on the heel”. The sandals are made using a synthetic upper, a fabric lining and a rubber sole.
They cost $105 or £85.
Adidas’s new offering adds to a range of vegan footwear products. In 2018, the company launched an initiative called “Our Icons Go Vegan”, which included the flagships Stan Smith sneakers made from vegan leather and animal-free glues. It also launched cruelty-free versions of its Superstar and Samba sneaker lines, as well as vegan Mickey and Minnie Samba shoes in partnership with Disney.
Despite these moves towards sustainability, Adidas has refused to join fellow sportswear giants Nike and Puma in committing to drop kangaroo leather from its offerings. Puma announced in March that it intends to phase out the use of animal leather in favour of synthetic options that it deems to be “superior”. Two weeks later, Nike communicated the same intention. Adidas, in contrast, has decided to continue manufacturing its Copa Mundial football boots with kangaroo leather until 2024.
The global rise of ethical fashion and the increasing popularity of veganism reflect changing attitudes among consumers. Younger consumers in particular are increasingly concerned with buying clothing and footwear that have been produced sustainably and ethically. A report from Nielsen published earlier this year found that 75% of millennial respondents were willing to pay extra for sustainable products. Almost 40% of consumers were prepared to change brands in order to use more environmentally friendly options.
Adidas’s trialing of sustainable materials in its products illustrates a wider trend in the fashion industry towards simplifying supply chains and producing materials that are more environmentally friendly. Other major fashion labels, including Gucci and Burberry, have announced that they will halt the use of fur in their products. Independent brands, such as LFW winner Labrum London, are also focusing on eco-friendly fabrics and ethical production.
