The go-green concept is slowly but steadily taking a toll over the fashion world. Likewise, Vivobarefoot is officially launching its latest eco-friendly shoes in July, the Ultra III in collaboration with Bloom Foam. They are a team based in Mississippi who define themselves as “the world’s first plant-based, high-performance solution to synthetic and petroleum-based flexible foams.” The shoe design uses algae extraction from waterways all around the world for its production.
How it helps the environment
Creating a thin, durable, light and flexible shoe is actually a very complex task (Credit/vivobarefoot.com)
Algae releases toxins which are harmful to marine animals and humans. This drains oxygen in the water and block sunlight, both of which are vital to marine life survival. It leads to deaths of wildlife and of course, pollution of drinking water and the air we breathe. However, the over-abundance of chemical wastes with nitrates and phosphates is providing favourable conditions for algae to grow way too exponentially. According to the company, each pair of the Ultra III shoes helps re-circulate around 57 gallons of filtered water back to the nature. It also prevents an equivalent of 40 balloons of CO2 from being released into Earth’s atmosphere.
Bloom foam offers the first sustainable alternative to the synthetic EVA (Credit/Vivobarefoot.com)
This is where Bloom Foam steps in. The team is introducing the idea of replacing ecologically harmful petroleum with algae uprooted from waterways to create sustainable product designs, such as the Ultra III. While cleaning up the environment, Vivobarefoot X Bloom is recycling these “toxic waste” into highly flexible, lightweight and endurable shoes.
The shop currently offers the Ultra III shoes in three different colours for both men and women in black, white, and red. Although Vivobarefoot announced July as its official launch period, you can already purchase your pair here.
Written by: Sumichhya Gurung