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

Most Popular

Snapshot / Recycling Crisis / II Feature

With Europeans producing 12.6 million tonnes of textile waste annually and most still ending up burned, dumped, or exported, the industry needs solutions that can deliver impact today, not in decades. The frenzied rush towards chemical recycling, while potentially transformative, risks creating expensive, exclusive pathways that leave the majority of textile waste unaddressed.

Beyond Chemical Promises: Why Textile Recycling Needs a Technology Reality Check

Subir Ghosh

3 June 2025

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

Textile Recycling Expo

Latest Specials

Tariff Turmoil / Developments Commentary

The legal battle over Trump's tariffs represents more than a dispute over trade policy; it embodies fundamental questions about American governance and the balance of power between branches of government.

Trump's Tariff Turmoil: Courts Challenge Presidential Authority in Landmark Trade Ruling

Richa Bansal

3 June 2025

Designer Talk / Nigerian Trends Report

These stunning runway moments at LagosFW24 redefined elegance with bold silhouettes, rich textures, and timeless sophistication.

How Lagos Fashion Blends Nigerian Tradition with Global Style Trends

Adwoa Owusuaa Bobie

29 May 2025

Young India Fashion Survey 2025