Old Materials Are New Shoe-Ins

Deja Shoe has unveiled its latest generation of footwear lines containing formulations of transformed trash, including an array of more than 15 different types of pre- and post-consumer recycled materials.

The fall styles have pushed the making of environmentally safer footwear from recycled materials to new levels, the company said.

Deja Shoe said it has made progress on several different fronts: a method for making outsoles containing 50% post-consumer tire rubber, a breakthrough in use of water-based adhesives for assembling shoes--which eliminates harmful and polluting fumes of solvent-based glues--and development of a new, high-end polypropylene fabric made from diaper manufacturers’ scraps.

Debuting is the women’s Envirolites selection--part of the original Ico Sneaks line--which sports colorful felt uppers made from recycled wool blankets and used clothing.

Planned for November is a new Deja Shoe category of casuals called the Gaia Rovers, expected to cost $60 to $75, incorporating upper material made of durable polypropylene fabric from the leftover trim waste from diaper manufacturing.