Rick Owens and Veja Team Up for Two Sustainable Footwear Styles
Carefully selected materials include recycled plastic and natural rubber.
Veja and Rick Owens have joined forces for the release of two sneakers, each with its own sustainable elements. The first is an update to the brands’ collaborative Fall/Winter 2019 V-Knit sneaker, which was previously shown during Rick Owens’ Fall/Winter 2019 men’s runway show. The second is a hiking style developed for wear on rough natural terrain.
The runner’s upper is made from a cozy wool knit – a naturally antimicrobial material. To cut down on plastic use, the silhouette features details made from vegetable castor oil. Additionally, the insole and outsole are made from a combination of natural materials, recycled plastic bottles and natural rubber from the Amazon.
Taking a sleeker approach to sustainability, the hiking-inspired “Venturi” silhouette is made from corn waste turned into a leather-like material. The use of this material cuts back on petroleum-based materials. Similar to the runner model, the vegan hiking style features an insole and outsole both made from recycled plastic bottles and natural rubber.
The wool knit runner is currently available in beige, gray and black, while the Venturi is available in either black or white. The sneakers retail for $290 USD and $255 USD, respectively. Both silhouettes can be purchased on either Veja or Rick Owens’ websites.
Elsewhere in footwear, Virgil Abloh has teased a cream Off-White™ x Air Jordan 5.
