These Vegan Slip-On Sneakers Are Made From Recycled Fashion Waste

Vegan sneakers that cause no harm to animals and divert textile waste from landfills? Yes, these new slip-on shoes tick both boxes and have just been launched by Hong Kong-based sustainable brand Kibo. 

Hong Kong sustainable shoe brand Kibo has just launched a new sneaker collection, its first vegan-friendly range. Called the Kibo Recycled Canvas Slip-Ons, the new cruelty-free shoe is crafted from recycled materials that have been rescued from factory floors—fabrics that would otherwise add to the truckload of textile waste landfilled every single second globally. 

Kibo Recycled Canvas Slip-Ons

Sharing more about the new collection with Green Queen Media, Kibo says its new canvas shoes are crafted from a range of recycled materials. While the upper is made mostly of recycled cotton from both pre- and post-consumer textiles, as well as some other recycled blends from post-industrial waste, the outsoles contain rescued rubber components. 

The insole of the shoe, just like the rest of Kibo’s range, is made from FSC-certified cork and recycled rubber foam, and all of it is put together using only water-based glue, at a factory that has been accredited by the BSCI, which ensures workplace safety compliance and human rights standards. 

According to Kibo, the use of recycled fibres on the canvas upper reduces the shoe’s water footprint by as much as 98% compared to conventional cotton materials. 

But that doesn’t mean any compromise in terms of comfort. Kibo says that its new kicks, which is the first vegan-friendly collection after the brand’s flagship upcycled leather sneaker range, still bears a near-virgin quality of conventional textiles. The design itself is lightweight and features orthopaedic insoles to offer support, and incorporates Micro-Fresh technology, which means they are anti-bacterial too. 

Read: 8 vegan and eco sneakers we’re loving right now

Sustainable vegan shoe demand

Announcing the launch of the new slip-ons, the brand’s co-founder Natalie Chow says that customers have been asking for a vegan-friendly and sustainable yet comfortable offering for a while. The shoe has been a year in the making, to ensure the brand delivers on all fronts.

“Our customers have been wanting a pair of sustainable, lightweight kicks that they can slip on and off easily. It has taken us a year to develop this to ensure we have a material that we believe in, and treads lightly on our planet.” 

Chow launched the brand back in 2018, initially as Lacess, before rebranding to Kibo earlier this year. As a veteran of the beauty and fashion industry, Chow said she became “jaded” about her career and decided to create her own brand that could “contribute more to society while doing less harm to the environment”. 

And consumers are clearly on board, with fast fashion labels being scrutinised over their practices more than ever before, and shoppers—driven by millennials and Gen Zs—turning to value-led brands and becoming more conscious about their purchases. 

In terms of making a social impact, Kibo currently donates a portion of proceeds from every pair of sneakers sold to charities helping to fight human trafficking and modern slavery. It is partnered with Compassion First, which runs programs to support child survivors of sex trafficking. 

The new vegan recycled canvas slip-ons are available in two colourways, Aquamarine and Slate Grey, and are sold for HK$720 via Kibo’s direct-to-consumer website and select retailers across Hong Kong. 

All images courtesy of Kibo.