Valentino Release Recycled Redesign Of Two Iconic Shoes
If anything has been proven in the last few years, it’s that we’ve put to bed the tired adage that style and sustainability can’t go hand-in-hand. With brands local and abroad releasing high-quality clothes using recycled or vegan products, the market is now flooded with options for those looking to shop with more of a social conscious. The latest example of this comes from Italian fashion house Valentino, who recreated two of their most beloved sneakers with what they call a more ‘conscious-driven’ ethos.
Falling under the umbrella of their Open For a Change project, the newly designed versions of their Open and Rockstud Untitled sneakers are made using recycled materials, a nod to the increasing demand for corporate social responsibility with regard to the impact of manufacturing processes on our environment. The new releases employ bio-based materials in the form of corn-based polyols as an alternative to leather and the pairs of laces are put together from recycled polyester. Of course, appearance is still a central focus of the project, as no amount of social goodwill is going to persuade a sneakerhead to splash upwards of $600 USD on a shoe if it doesn’t look the part. The two designs uphold the brand’s reputation for understated but stylish footwear, with the simple but bold thick stripe design coming in a range of different colours and unique patterns to satisfy the aesthetic preferences of just about any sneakerhead.
The new releases are not the first move Valentino has made to display its industry-leading mindset on the conscience-driven issue. “With Valentino Garavani Open for a Change, our first conscious-driven product, we reinforce our brand commitment toward more sustainable business practices,” CEO Jacopo Venturini remarked during the launch of the new shoes. “I think it’s important that we continue this way and set targets going forward that are more and more ambitious toward conscious-driven creative innovations.”
The Maison set the tone several years ago when it became was the first fashion house to announce it was discontinuing using alpaca fleece in its products back in 2020 and has since gone fully fur-free. The Open and Rockstud Unlimited redesigns are the next step in Valentino’s evolution as the world-renowned fashion house continues to blaze the trail for socially conscious fashion. Head to their website to check out the new designs and learn more about the Open For a Change project.