Vionic’s new sneaker collection supports Proteus Ocean Group’s mission of finding innovative solutions to clean up the oceans after the Caleres brand linked arms with the social enterprise last year.
Vionic x Proteus features the former’s podiatrist-developed Three-Zone comfort technology. The collaboration includes a consumer education campaign, co-branded beach cleanups, and $500,000 to support ocean health, sustainability and innovation at Proteus.
“With Proteus, we align in our sense of innovation and in our commitment to our oceans and planet. We will lean on the expertise of the Proteus team to guide us in making the best eco-forward decisions we can. In turn, we’ll bring their message to our customers to create greater demand for more sustainability in all consumer goods, including footwear,” said Angela Caltagirone, Vionic senior vice president and general manager.
The ‘sea-inspired’ vegan capsule collection features three sneaker styles incorporating canvas fabric, Repreve, and rubber and soybean-based outsoles, each in an exclusive coral print.
A launch kickoff in California collected more than 500 pounds of trash from Santa Monica’s beaches, according to Fabien Cousteau, Proteus Ocean Group founder and executive board member.
Footwear companies are increasingly taking inspiration from the sector’s impact and what they can do about it.
Oceania, the nautical-inspired men’s shoe brand owned by Novus Inc., recently launched its Eco footwear collection aiming to green the industry According to the brand, Eco stands for environmental awareness, corporate responsibility, and ode to sustainability.
“Our goal in launching the Eco collection is to take a step forward into a new phase of sustainable business practices to reduce our ecological footprint,” said Antonio Perez, Oceania brand manager.
Eco shoes are produced with 100 percent recyclable materials such as Recy-tex organic cotton and shock-absorbing insoles made from recycled foam and wine corks. The collection takes inspiration from the “lush evergreen sceneries” and “exceptional blues of the Caribbean” found in Puerto Rican culture, according to Oceania.
Ocean Refresh launched before the pandemic with a laser focus on making footwear that helps rid oceans of plastic trash. Cariuma has also used its brand to clean global waterways of rubbish made of plastic.