Footwear companies celebrate the planet

Earth Day is celebrated on the 22^nd of April, it honours the life and beauty of the planet and has been promoting peace since 1970. Today, it is synonymous with environmental protection and sustainability, values that need to be defended in the world of fashion, too. Although for the fashion industry, sustainability is becoming – not without its difficulties – a daily challenge and commitment, in order to celebrate an event that mobilises around a billion people around the world, brands and companies have busied themselves making new products and eco-friendly capsule collections. They have also been starting collaborations with international organisations committed to protecting the environment.

Diadora Utility, a footwear and workwear brand, presents Glove Eco, the green version of the ‘Utility’ shoe. It is the result of intense research and innovation by the Venetian company, which tested recycled materials and eco-friendly substances and dyes in its laboratories for a year. These results have meant that the company was awarded the Ecovadis Gold Medal and reached the top 5% of performers with respect to sustainability. For this exclusive model, for whose first limited edition 6,000 pairs will be produced in Caerano di San Marco (TV).  Each component – from the tread to the laces, from the upper to the seams, and even to the dyes used – has been designed with the aim of reducing environmental impact and, consequently, increasing the sustainability of the supply chain, without compromising the performance of the shoe and its durability. All the fabrics that make up the Glove Eco are from recycled R-PET polyester, while the upper leather is free of PFAS, pollutants with long-term consequences for both the environment and for people’s health. The sole and midsole are made in part with recycled materials, the aluminium toecap and the anti-perforation insert have been produced using either recycled materials or ones from production waste. The same goes for packaging, which is made with paper from FSC-certified recycled and recovered material. On the occasion of the launch of Glove Eco, Utility launched a partnership project with the international environmental protection organisation WeForest, to repopulate the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, one of the earth’s ‘lungs’ and a wonder of biodiversity, and to support local communities. For every pair of Glove Ecos that is purchased, Utility and WeForest have vouched to safeguard a tree with the aim of reaching 6,000 trees by the end of the year.

Diadora – Glove ECO

A ‘Made in Italy’ sneaker brand that has made sustainability its mission since its birth is Yatay, choosing to celebrate Earth Day every day and with every collection. However, this anniversary is an opportunity for the brand to reaffirm its commitment to the capsule collection in collaboration with No More Plastic and to relaunch the #walkwithus campaign to raise awareness about the problem of microplastics in the oceans. From this collaboration, launched last October, a sneaker capsule collection was born, supported by four global ambassadors, Helena Christensen, Cindy Bruna, Azza Slimene, and Amelia Windsor, with a message of possible and sustainable change.

YATAY for NOMOREPLASTIC – Irori by Azza Slimene

Docksteps, the Italian brand of the Excelsa group, has decided to support the volunteers of Legambiente and the non-profit organisation “Giardino degli Aromi” in Milan, by donating its iconic boots and its Vancouver model. The aim is to contribute to the cleaning of an important symbol of the city of Milan, the gardens of the former Paolo Pini Psychiatric Hospital. The non-profit organisation, through horticultural therapy courses, internships and personalised forms of hospitality, is responsible for accompanying the social reintegration of people who experience different forms of hardship, carrying out activities with them in green spaces.

Docksteps – Trekking boot – Vancouver model