The fashion industry is known to have wasteful and environmentally unfriendly practices, but new start-ups who enter the fashion world, as well as many established brands, are aiming to make up for the environmental missteps of the past by embracing ethics and sustainability through innovative means.

Lisbon-based shoe brand Undo for Tomorrow is one of the brands that is striving to manufacture eco-friendly and ethical products. The company just launched the vegan “Nuven” sneakers, which are comprised of sustainably sourced materials as well as recycled and natural materials (such as bamboo for the lining and recycled plastic for the vegan suede outer shell). The main visual feature is the multicolored sole of the sneaker, which is made from discarded party balloons and rubber tire leftovers.

Undo for Tomorrow doesn’t just prioritize sustainability. The startup makes sure to emphasize human and social rights by partnering with a family-owned factory in São Paulo, Brazil, where they source materials mostly from within the domestic Brazilian market, ensure good working conditions and pay their workers good living wages.

The vegan “Nuven” sneaker joins other footwear brands that are finally rejecting the wasteful use of plastic, petroleum, and animal-derived leather that has fueled the footwear industry for generations. Some brands are finding ways to produce compostable shoes out of kombucha tea waste, while others embrace plant-based leather. Even big-name brands such as Adidas are making it their goal to make sustainable shoes more accessible to the general public and have produced zero-waste footwear and sneakers made of mushroom leather.

Source Image: Undo for Tomorrow