Wine cork recyclers ReCORK teamed up with footwear brand SOLE to create the SOLE Jasper Chukka, a sneaker style featuring a midsole made with 52 recycled natural wine corks per pair. This new fall and winter sneaker taps into ReCORK's expertise in collecting and recycling used natural wine corks from thousands of cork recycling partners across the US and Canada like vineyards, municipalities, restaurants and grocery stores. To date, ReCORK has collected more than 132 million corks.
The limited-edition SOLE Jasper Chukka is the first shoe to feature ReCORK's patented new material technology, ReCORK Recycled Cork. This flexible, durable material offers comparable benefits to synthetic foam but with significantly less environmental impact. The midsole is paired with an upper featuring top-quality, ethically sourced Merino wool knit, baffled with a fill made from upcycled bison fiber from the ranching industry.
Upcycled Cork Sneakers
Each SOLE Jasper Chukka Pair is Made with 52 Recycled Natural Wine Corks
Trend Themes
1. Recycled-sneaker Innovation - Footwear brands are increasingly incorporating recycled materials like natural wine corks to create sustainable sneakers.
2. Echological Material Tech - New material technologies, such as ReCORK's Recycled Cork, offer eco-friendly alternatives to traditional synthetic foams.
3. Ethically-sourced Textiles - The use of ethically sourced materials, such as Merino wool knit and upcycled bison fiber, is gaining traction in the fashion industry.
Industry Implications
1. Sustainable Footwear - The footwear industry is evolving to prioritize sustainability through the use of recycled and ethically sourced materials.
2. Recycling and Waste Management - Innovative partnerships in recycling are transforming waste products like wine corks into valuable raw materials for new products.
3. Eco-friendly Textiles - The textile industry is seeing a surge in the use of sustainable fibers, promoting eco-conscious fashion choices.