ECO-Shoes

The Virgin Collection by OAT

Dutch company OAT have designed a range of biodegradable shoes with seeds embedded in the tongues.

Called The Virgin Collection, the shoes can be discarded by burying them in the ground, where they completely decompose and a bouquet of wild flowers grows to mark the place.

Fibræ by Mattia Gagliano

Mattia Gagliano's goal is to demonstrate the versatility of flax as a plant, to abstain from combinations with non-compostable material and to retain flax's natural characteristics.

"As one of the first plants ever cultivated by humans, flax is currently experiencing a renaissance in Switzerland."

Rewild the Run

Kiki Grammatopoulos has created a chunky, bristly running shoe outsole that helps to spread plants and seeds in cities, as part of a project she's titled Rewild the Run.

Grammatopoulos used biomimicry in the project, borrowing elements from nature to create her sneaker outsole, which is densely covered in tiny hooks that grip onto dirt and plant matter as the wearer treads.

The hooks allow the shoes to mimic the phenomenon of epizoochory, where seeds are transported by becoming attached to an animal's fur.

Creative Shoes

Snowfeet

Snowfeet are small, lightweight, one-size-fits-all attachments that strap onto winter shoes or snowboard boots to turn them into mini skis.

Flannerz

Flaneurz created the detachable roller skate, which combines a sneaker and a roller skate.

Using a system placed in the sole of the shoe, the skate can be quickly clipped on.

Chindogu - "Un-Useless Inventions"

Chindogu is an art form created by Kenji Kawakami, who described his inventions as "un-useless" - meaning they are playful takes on potential products.

Shoes are one of Kawakami's favorite items to experiment with.

Upcycled Experiments - Nicole Mclaughlin

Designer nicole mclaughlin explores upcycling everyday items into fantastical yet totally wearable shoes. Her latest creations push the boundaries of footwear by utilizing objects such as egg cartons, backpacks and even a bag of Haribo gummies.