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The Plant Sneaker
The Plant Sneaker is our debut into the world of vegan footwear. Made to challenge our perception of what a shoe can be, it's the first step in realizing our vision of offering plant-powered alternatives.
The creation of a plant-powered shoe
We have always believed in pushing boundaries while respecting tradition. Leather is a phenomenal material with unparalleled qualities, and it will continue to have a natural place in our collections. However, we have been eager to explore what vegan substitutes can offer in terms of durability, design, and performance.
With this in mind, a curious idea took shape: to create a plant-powered shoe. Over time, it evolved into one of our most ambitious projects ever.
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Solving the equation of plant-based solutions
In our search to create a plant-powered shoe, we experimented with several exciting components. Many options had great potential, but after numerous sample rounds and months of test-wearing, they all proved insufficient.
One innovation we explored was cactus leather, a product known for its sustainability and low environmental impact. However, despite its potential, cactus leather did not uphold the durability and quality standards we demand.
Another option we surveyed was mushroom leather, an interesting development that offered unique textures and eco-friendly properties. While mushroom leather is a very appealing alternative for the future, the production capabilities and supply are not yet there, and are mainly reserved for smaller, experimental runs.
Years of research and development, countless meetings with production specialists, and numerous trials with different leather substitutes led us to NFW (Natural Fiber Welding) and their creation, MIRUM®.
NFW and MIRUM®
MIRUM® represents a giant leap in material innovation, offering a sustainable and high-quality alternative to traditional leather. It is made with natural, biodegradable polymers, including natural rubber, vegetable oil, citric acid, and fillers like cork and rice husks.
In other words, it is 100% natural and 0% plastic.
By partnering with NFW, we've embraced this exciting development to bring you a shoe that embodies our commitment to pushing the envelope and striving further.
MIRUM® COMPONENTS
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The last step
Creating a fully plant-powered shoe proved to be a monumental task. One of the most significant hurdles we encountered was the choice of material for the outsole. We had hoped to find something that met our rigorous testing standards — while being entirely plastic-free. Despite our best efforts, after letting parts of the team test-drive numerous versions, we have yet to discover and develop a suitable plant-powered substitute for the outsole.
Finally, we opted for The Court Sneaker's highly durable and comfortable outsole — a rubber sole that, while still being vegan, is not made out of renewable plant material, like the rest of The Plant Sneaker. This decision ensures that the shoe upholds the high standards we have for all of our products, even as we continue our quest for a fully plant-powered solution.
The Plant Sneaker marks a significant milestone in this project, and we are proud to unveil it in our continuous effort to create more plant-powered footwear.
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