More miles, less waste: this sums up the latest green innovation from ID.EIGHT, the Tuscan sustainable sneaker brand made with materials derived from food industry waste. A partnership has been signed with DisanaPianta, a Brescia-based artisan workshop specializing in sneaker repair and restoration. Thanks to this collaboration, ID.EIGHT customers will have the opportunity to extend the life of their shoes by relying on a specialized repair service that uses the same eco-friendly materials already employed in their creation.
Today, a pair of sneakers has an average lifespan of between 600 and 800 kilometers, after which they are often thrown away. The disposal of shoes in general, and sports shoes in particular, is no small matter: of the 24.2 billion pairs of shoes produced globally each year, experts say the majority end up in a landfill or an incinerator because there are simply too many shoes and not enough recycling solutions (World Footwear Yearbook data). ID.EIGHT aims to double the distance covered by its sneakers, thanks to a sustainable option: repair.
The DisanaPianta laboratory, founded nine years ago in Brescia by Federica Sofia and Nicola Buono, has specialized in the restoration and reconstruction of footwear, particularly sneakers, by adopting a creative and sustainable approach.
The laboratory, which uses upcycling techniques, is now able to intervene on the structure of the sneakers using materials already in use, leftover fabrics derived from food waste, and low-environmental-impact technical materials, thanks to a training period with the ID.EIGHT team.
In this way, not only do the shoes return as good as new and durable over time, but if the customer wishes, they can be further enhanced with personalized repair interventions, making their sustainable sneakers even more unique.
This service will allow customers to regenerate their footwear, extending its life by hundreds of kilometers, thus contributing to waste reduction and promoting more responsible consumption. Federica Sofia, founder of DisanaPianta, is enthusiastic about this new challenge: "We have always worked with leather, but ID.EIGHT's philosophy immediately won us over. We share the same values and have challenged ourselves, experimenting with creative repairs and customizations using their materials. We like the idea that a shoe can be regenerated, becoming unique and tailored to the customer."
Not just regeneration: ID.EIGHT sneakers are not only genderless, but they also feature continuous models, season after season, to combat overproduction. They are made with materials derived from the transformation of food waste, such as apple peels (Uppeal), pineapple leaves (Pinatex), and corn and mycelium (BioVeg).
In addition to these, technical fabrics made from recycled polyester and organic cotton are used for the upper, lining, and insole. Today, over 70% of the components of ID.EIGHT sneakers are made with recycled materials. The packaging is also designed to reduce environmental impact: the boxes are made of recycled paper and contain a "seed bomb" to contribute to biodiversity and the protection of bees. Finally, they are VVV+ certified (Animal Free Fashion, the certification by LAV), and are therefore 100% cruelty-free.
Giuliana Borzillo and Dong Seong Lee, the brand's founders, declare: “This collaboration marks an important step forward towards more sustainable and responsible fashion, offering consumers not only products made with low-environmental-impact materials but also a concrete way to extend their life, reducing waste. We are thrilled to collaborate with two pioneers like Federica and Nicola, who share our project and our philosophy”.
Id.Eight will handle shipping the shoes to be repaired to Disanapianta, ensuring safe and timely delivery. Once the repair is complete, Id.Eight will arrange for the sneakers to be returned to the customer, ensuring a continuous and efficient service.
ID.EIGHT is the sustainable, cruelty-free, and genderless sneaker brand founded in Florence in 2019 by South Korean designer Dong Seon Lee and Italian product manager Giuliana Borzillo. ID.EIGHT sneakers are made with materials derived from food industry waste - such as apple peels, grape stalks and skins, and pineapple leaves. The brand has already achieved significant recognition, such as the Pitti Immagine special prize in the Who is on Next contest by Vogue and Altaroma, the Green Product Award 2020, and the CALLforFASHION from the MIP incubator in Florence.
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CONTACTS
ID.EIGHT Press Office: Serena Gasparoni sere.gasparoni@gmail.com
Mobile: 3405601016
