A forward-thinking company from New Zealand is setting out to change the footwear industry. Just last month, YY Nation launched its Legacy Footwear Collection on Kickstarter. This collection emphasizes waste reduction in every stage of the consumer cycle by using pre-consumer, post-consumer, and plant waste to decrease the amount of plastic they create and leave behind while producing their shoes.
Traditionally, the fashion and footwear industries have been significant contributors to global waste and pollution problems. There have been some step forwards, such as using more sustainable materials to make products and turning to alternative power sources. While American solar power alone offsets more than 70 million metric tons of carbon dioxide every year, which is akin to planting nearly 1.2 billion trees, initiatives like using solar power aren't common enough across footwear and fashion brands at each stage of their processes. That's the change that YY Nation hopes to make a common occurrence with the Legacy Footwear Collection.
In this shoe line, every part of the shoe from the laces and soles to the packaging has sustainable, natural, and recycled materials. Throughout the shoe, the materials include bamboo, algae, sugar cane, wool, plastic bottles, recycled rubber, and recycled fishnets. To bind the shoe, YY Nation uses plant-based adhesives that also give it additional natural strength. This impressive list of materials is in contrast with the plastic and rubber that typically make up the billions of shoes made every year. By incorporating recycled materials into the shoes, YY Nation hopes to cut down on the amount of harmful materials that end up in landfills and take decades to decompose. Americans throw away over 300 million pairs of shoes every year, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior. Since these shoes don't decompose well, bits of plastic and rubber get mixed into environments like the beach, harming natural ecosystems. The Legacy Footwear Collection uses "waste" from shoes that would usually go to landfills and later harm the planet.
Just because the collection uses a combination of scraps from other shoes and materials found naturally in the earth doesn't mean that the shoes aren't sturdy. When you shop this collection, you have the choice of New Zealand Merino wool fabric or bamboo fabric for the upper materials. Both of these options mold to your feet for optimal comfort, are odor-resistant, and wick away moisture. These uppers are made even more durable through reinforcements that are weaved together with patented strength technology. You can find comparable durability in the rest of the shoe as well. The footbeds are made with algae foam that provides cushion and support. The sole uses flexible lightweight cup sole technology to protect and support your feet over all types of terrain. Whether you're part of the six out of ten households that have someone in their home who has gone camping or you prefer to stay closer to home, you can wear these shoes and expect to get comfort and durability all at once. The outsoles can withstand the elements, as they're made from a unique combination of your choice of algae and recycled rubber or sugar cane.
All of these strong features and materials can be found in each of the four styles in the Legacy Footwear Collection: Cirro, Nimbo, Strato, and Alto. The Cirro is a functional lace-up sneaker that's perfect for everyday wear. The Nimbo is similarly suited for daily use, with a lace-free design and lightness that make for optimal comfort. The Strato offers support and lace-up security that allows you to walk wherever you need to. And last but certainly not least, the Alto is a pair of high-tops made with pineapple leather for all of the adventurers out there who need durable shoes. To find the right Legacy Footwear Collection shoe for you, check out the Kickstarter from YY Nation today. You can pre-order a pair from the collection for just $75. Even though researchers believe that data breaches exposed over 4 billion records in the first half of 2019 alone, you don't have to worry about the security of your financial information. Kickstarter is a secure platform that hosts thousands of campaigns every year and is adept at keeping its user's information safe. By using this platform to invest in a sustainable shoe out to change the landscape of the footwear industry, you'll safely be using your hard-earned money to make the planet a better place.
Category: Footwear Blog, Footwear Industry, Legacy Footwear Collection, Men's Shoes, Men's Sneakers, Shoe Blog, Shoeography, Sustainable Footwear, YY Nation
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