The adidas ‘ocean plastic’ shoe

We’ve had the adidas RT boost, the Ultra boost and the much sought-after adidas Originals, but now it’s the turn of the adidas ‘ocean plastic’ shoe.

The much-loved sportswear brand, famed for collaborating with a number of superstars (Rita Ora, Stella McCartney and Open Ceremony to name but a few), has announced that it has teamed up with a very different partner for this latest collaboration.

Last month, adidas proudly announced their partnership with Parley for the Oceans at the United Nations headquarters in New York. As one of the founding members of Parley for the Oceans, which campaigns to raise awareness about the disastrous state of the oceans, adidas is announcing loud and proud that it is a brand that cares about sustainability and environmental issues.

The support for Parley for the Oceans did not go unnoticed at the high-level event on climate change, especially after adidas showcased their clever new shoes, made from plastic pollution from the ocean at the same event.

On the surface, the adidas ‘ocean plastic’ shoe looks like very similar to one of the latest adidas trainers with a wide white bouncy soul and plenty of padding for comfort. But when you go a bit deeper into the construction, you’ll find out that the upper is made entirely of yarns and filaments reclaimed and recycled from ocean waste and illegal deep-sea gillnets. In fact, this particular prototype features materials retrieved in the nets of Parley partner Sea Shepherd after a 110-day expedition tracking an illegal poaching vessel, which culminated off the coast of West Africa.

And this is only the beginning. This concept shoe is the first look at the kind of ocean plastic products that will be revealed later on in the year. So you will be able to not only find sportswear that features the latest technology but you’ll also be promoting protection of oceans for the next generation. Talk about training with a conscience!

‘At Parley for the Oceans, we want to establish the oceans as a fundamental part of the debate around climate change,’ says Cyrill Gutsch founder of Parley for the Oceans. ‘Our objective is to boost public awareness and to inspire new collaborations that can contribute to protect and preserve the oceans. We are extremely proud that adidas is joining us in this mission and is putting its creative force behind this partnership to show that it is possible to turn ocean plastic into something cool.’

Eric Liedtke, who is also a passionate member of the Parley for the Oceans Steering Committee, said: ‘We are incredibly excited to join Parley for the Oceans as they bring the cause of the oceans to the attention of the United Nations. Adidas has long been a leader in sustainability, but this partnership allows us to tap into new areas and create innovative materials and products for our athletes. We invite everyone to join us on this journey to clean up the oceans.’

It’s a bold but welcome move by adidas showcasing their commitment to innovation and sustainability. We cannot wait to what else they have to offer – watch this space.