It ain't fashion, if it ain't sustainable

Sneakers

Footwear Innovation / Industry Scan

23 January 2024

4 minutes

Footwear is particularly problematic. Unlike a basic T-shirt, which might consist of a single material such as 100 percent polyester, a sneaker or running shoe can be made of as many as 65 materials and components.

Sneakers and Sportswear Still Dragging Their Feet on Sustainability

Sportswear, athleisure and sneakers are big business. But they depend on fossil fuel-based materials, and recycling them is particularly tricky.

By

Alexandra Sherlock
Rebecca Van Amber

Analysis

Young India Fashion Survey 2025

Textile Recycling Expo

ITF Intertex Portugal 2025

Most Popular

Under Scanner / Nike Wage Theft Analysis

Without binding frameworks, supply chains will continue to operate on a model of plausible deniability and race-to-the-bottom pricing.

Nike's Unpaid Wages and Erosion of Corporate Credibility in Global Supply Chains

Special Correspondent

8 May 2025

Wool Usage / NZ Push Report

New Zealand is weaving wool into the fabric of its future. The wool procurement shift is being lauded as both a climate-conscious and economy-boosting move.

Greener Floors, Stronger Futures: New Zealand Chooses Wool for Climate and Community

Richa Bansal

21 April 2025