Leading sports-chic shoe producer Adidas has announced it will launch a line of trainers made from mushroom leather.
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As part of a 2021 sustainability initiative, Adidas is launching a line of plant-based footwear made from mushroom leather. The new ‘purely biological’ vegan trainers will be created using mycelium, the part of fungi that produces mushrooms.
Adidas is working with biotech startup Bolt Threads to create its new trainers, which also collaborates with Stella McCartney and Lululemon. Companies like Bolt Threads creating leather from plant-based materials are on the rise, and just last year Natalie Portman invested in a similar mushroom leather startup.
However, this is not the first time Adidas has ventured into plant-based footwear. Last year Adidas launched vegan leather versions of several classic trainers which immediately became bestsellers. These included vegan Superstars and Stan Smiths, two of the brand’s iconic designs.
Sustainable footwear
Alongside the launch of the new vegan trainers, Adidas has also made a commitment to use more than 60% recycled materials across its product range in 2021, and then exclusively recycled materials by 2024.
According to Adidas CEO Kasper Rorsted, “Sustainability is an integral part of the Adidas business philosophy.
“We have continued to invest in sustainability initiatives during the coronavirus pandemic and we will significantly expand our range of sustainable products in 2021.”
Moreover, the brand has banned fur from its products in a pledge to the animal rights group Vier Pfoten. These initiatives are all part of a wider commitment to reach climate neutrality by the year 2050.
The new line will be hitting Adidas stores and online retailers this year.
Are you a new vegan and unsure about what to wear in your new plant-based lifestyle?
Here is our guide on Everything You Should Know About Vegan Shoes.
Image credit: Adidas.
