Algae

From The Ocean To Your Feet

We’re going to be farming what we wear now, especially on our feet. We have seen it all, but Kanye West teamed up with Adidas to created the Yeezy Foam Runner which was released in 2020 (the first colour wave was beige) made out of algae, and that is just the start of something new. Algae is becoming the new macro trend. With the help of Kayne and Adidas, it will become the new way to produce sustainable footwear and fashion apparel. It is not the only time Kanye has used algae for his brand. He has slowly been using more algae in his designs, as can be seen in his newer Yeezy models such as the 500, 700 V3 and the 350 V2.

This is the beginning of the future of Kanye West and many other footwear brands working with algae. Algae is an aquatic, non-flowering plant, including seaweed. The fashion industry as we know it is trying to be increasingly more sustainable and the reason why Kanye and Adidas decided to use algae is because the industry pumps millions of tonnes of Carbon into the air every year which ends up polluting the atmosphere and the water. Therefore, they decided to make a change to this, starting with footwear. These models have already proven to be a hit with consumers. Many onlookers have become aware of this. Brands such as Nike have started to make their AirMax 90s from up-cycled sawdust, recycled foam, and cotton. Others like Italian brand Womsh use apple leather, and Dutch brand Mercer use pineapple. Brands are becoming more sustainable by using plants and fruits for resources.

“We’re going to be farming and going seed to sole” - Kanye west

The brand’s HQ is a ranch in Wyoming, USA, where Kayne and his team have been growing resources such as algae, cotton and hemp. This also includes a hydroponic farm. We can see the future of algae will change many brands for the better and directly help with sustainability. The benefit of algae lies in the fact that when customers are no longer interested in their shoes, instead of it becoming unwanted waste, algae will break down easier than plastic and is easier to be recycled. This will make a difference for the environment. It’s a win win!

This is a unique idea for the fashion industry — from the ocean to your feet. It serves as an inspiration to all those who are wanting to start their own brand, whether its footwear or apparel. We can see how algae is going to change the future of fashion and the industry.

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