Materials are Getting Smarter
From shoes made of pineapples to football kits made of sea plastic, we’ve gathered together a selection of smarter materials that might just catch on…
Shoes made out of pineapples…
Okay, so not the full pineapple. Pinatex® is a natural textile made from pineapple leaf fibre by a company called Ananas Anam. Usually discarded or burned, the leaves are a byproduct of existing agriculture and their use creates an additional income stream for farming communities. The material is seen as an alternative to leather and synthetic materials and has already been used in a limited run of sneakers by BOSS which were released in May.
Said BOSS sneakers were designed to be 90-95% sustainable; from the recycled TPU sole, to the organic cotton laces and lining. The sneakers came in four colourways – all derived from natural plant-based dyes, while the water-based glue used in the construction was made without chemicals and from natural ingredients. In addition to this, the shoes were packaged in a fully recyclable and biodegradable paper box, made from 100% recovered fiber.
Football kits made out of sea plastic…
Apart from Christiano Ronaldo, what links Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus? The answer is ocean plastic. This season all three teams will play in third kits made from recycled ocean plastic to raise awareness of marine pollution. A collaboration between sportswear giant Adidas and conservation group Parley For The Oceans, past collaborative products have included a line of trainers made from up-cycled plastic waste and a limited run of swimwear made from up-cycled fishing nets and debris found in coastal areas.
Boots tanned with olives…
Best known for their country boots, British shoemaker Tricker’s in partnership with German tannery Wienheimer, have developed Olivvia leather, an all-natural tanning procedure using olive leaves. Again, a bi-product of agriculture that is usually discarded or burned, the olive leaves provide a completely chrome-free tanning alternative. Until recently, Olivvia leather had been used for watch straps and other leather goods including furniture, wall coverings and interior art projects. For Autumn 2018, Tricker’s have launched Olivvia Deer Skin, a butter soft, high quality leather which retains the durability expected from a Tricker’s shoe or boot whilst being easy on both the skin and the environment.
Jumpers made out of wool…
You’ve heard of this one, right? Not as glamorous as tropical fruit, but when done properly, wool is one of the smartest materials of them all. John Smedley sponsor 30 New Zealand farmers to ensure complete transparency and traceability of their merino wool. This also helps them cultivate the best fibres and helps their farmers grow their own business. A fixed price on merino for five years also provides a sustainable base for farmers amid price fluctuations on the open market.
The British knitwear company have also made a big deal of proving the sustainability of their garments alongside none other than Prince Charles and The Campaign for Wool. The company buried one of their wool garments alongside an acrylic sweater in the gardens of Clarence House in London. When dug up three months later, the wool had visibly begun to biodegrade. The acrylic sweater meanwhile, had done no such thing, remaining exactly the same as when buried whilst managing to stifle and kill some of the plants above it.
Messenger bags made out of canvas van panels…
When organic veg company Abel & Cole were redesigning their yellow delivery vans they ended up with a lot of spare canvas panels. Rather than throw them away, they gave them to the crafty folks at The Design Against Crime Centre at Central Saint Martins University, the people behind the Makeright bags initiative. Their aim is to pass on skills, resilience and empathy to the people incarcerated in some of the UK’s prisons.
The anti-theft bags, which include totes, messenger bags and laptop wallets are made from sturdy recycled vinyl and are designed by inmates at HMP Thameside with the finalised designs being manufactured at Kilmarnock Prison in Scotland as part of a separate scheme. All profits go back to The Makeright Project.
Words by Davey BRETT
Image Credits courtesy of HUGO BOSS
