Earth Month 2023: Koio, Stella McCartney & More Brands Celebrating Environmentalism With New Shoe Releases & Initiatives

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Earth Month is here, celebrating environmentalism and sustainability during the month of April. With Earth Day — which began in the 1970s as a day to celebrate the Earth’s environment — on April 22, numerous brands have released new collaborations, limited-edition collections and products celebrating sustainable materials and responsible production. Discover them all, below.

Koio releases 99% biodegradable sneakers

Koio has launched its most sustainable shoe yet for Earth Day: the Mello, a regenerative sneaker crafted from 99% biodegradable materials. The $495 style features metal-free Zeolite-tanned leather uppers, complete with lightweight 100% hevea-tree milk Lactae Hevea soles. The pair is finished with secure organic cotton laces, as well as recycled kneaf, wool and corn insoles for a burst of eco-friendly comfort. You can shop the recyclable style now on Koio’s website.

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Koio’s Mello sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Koio

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Stella McCartney drops forest-friendly sandals in new capsule

Just in time for Earth Day, designer Stella McCartney has released her latest eco-friendly capsule collection. The $325-$2,800 “Summer Loving” line features an array of romantic vegan dresses, shirts, separates, athleisure, handbags and shoes made with materials like GOTS-certified cotton, traceable viscose raffia and natural jute. Its CanopyStyle Audit-verified shoe lineup notably includes the $795 braided Skyla slides, as well as the $795 Gaia espadrille wedges — each made with responsibly-sourced raffia in hues of ecru and black. You can shop the full collection now on McCartney’s website.

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Stella McCartney’s Gaia espadrille wedge sandals.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Stella McCartney

Ugg drops new Sugarcloud slides for Earth Day

Ugg’s latest sustainable style has been released for Earth Day: its UGGÒ Sugarcloud slide. The $150 slip-on style features the brand’s signature SugarSoleÔ midsoles crafted from renewable sugarcane, as well as molded rubber platform outsoles made with 50% recycled rubber. The slip-on pair is currently available on the brand’s website in hues of pink, yellow and black. The shoe’s launch follows Ugg’s sustainable efforts this season, including its UGGrenew shoe repair program launch, commitment to restore farmland acres, increasing its upcycled wool usage and using less water to reduce environmental waste.

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Ugg’s UGGÒ Sugarcloud slides.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Ugg

Toms partners with thredUp to promote sustainable shopping

Toms has joined forces with resale platform thredUP this Earth Day to highlight its commitments to sustainability. The duo’s partnership allows Toms customers to send their gently used Toms items to thredUP in exchange for Toms.com credit, allowing their pieces to have a second life; any unaccepted items will be recycled to reduce waste. Customers can also shop for pre-worn Toms products online, currently ranging from $5-$80. 

“As the resale market gains momentum, we’re pleased to offer our customers two easy ways to contribute to the circular economy – shopping second hand or sending in gently used items to give them a second life,” Toms’ chief brand officer Amy Smith said in a statement. “As a mission-driven brand in business to improve lives, Toms is thrilled to launch this partnership with thredUP as an extension of our ongoing B Corp and sustainability efforts, giving customers a new way to WEAR GOOD.”

Sperry launches eco-friendly Kerby Rosanes collaboration

Sperry’s newest collaboration for Earth Day has tapped the skills of artist Kerby Rosanes. Within the $60-$70 line, part of the brand’s sustainable SeaCycled Collection, Rosanes has reimagined its slip-on and lace-up sneakers with his signature illustrations in ocean-inspired prints. The mens’ and womens’ styles, cast in multicolored and black-and-white palettes, are made with recycled polyester textile uppers for a sustainable spin.

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Sperry x Kerby Striper’s mens Utopia sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Sperry

Rails launches Eco Collection for safe water access

Rails is releasing its new Eco Collection, just in time for Earth Month. The brand’s $80-$298 collection features numerous dresses, sweaters, shirts, sun hats and more in hues of red, blue, pink, green, and gray, crafted with recycled fabric, BCI-certified cottons and Eco Vero fabrics. Aside from its fashion-forward approach, the collection also comes with a cause: for each Eco denim style sold, Rails will provide a year of safe water access for one person, in partnership with Water.org.

Native Shoes’ new clogs feature Sugarlite uppers

Native Shoes’ latest style launch has arrived just in time for Earth Day. The brand’s new $45-$50 unisex Jefferson clogs, made in adults’ and children’s sizes, are crafted from its signature bio-based Sugarlite material. Sugarlite, which produces less greenhouse gas emissions than traditional EVA, is formed for the shoe in a perforated slip-on silhouette that’s lightweight, odor-resistant and easy to clean.

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Native Shoes’ Jefferson clogs.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Native Shoes

 Fullup’s sustainable sneakers reuse recycled water bottles

Fullup’s sustainable footwear is committed to being eco-conscious, crafted with only five parts and a reduced carbon footprint. The brand’s lineup of $230 Infinity sneakers include 90% recycled polyester uppers, as well as 10 reused water bottles in every pair.

 Merrell’s new sandals clean water with algae-based foam

Merrell’s commitment to sustainability can be seen in its latest sandal styles, released just in time for Earth Day. The brand’s new $70 Hut Ultra slides feature recycled webbing-based hook-and-loop straps with padded soles, complete with midsoles made from its signature BLOOM foam: an algae biomass-based material that transforms green water into clean water. Meanwhile, its $80 Hut Ultra Wrap sandals feature the same recycled webbing-based uppers and BLOOM midsoles, though its straps boast a buckled silhouette for utilitarian adjustability. Both comfort-focused styles are now available in men’s and women’s sizing on Merrell’s website.

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Merrell’s women’s Hut Ultra slides.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Merrell

Cotton On’s reusable bags support tree growth

Cotton On is putting the spotlight on its Cotton On Foundation this Earth Day. The affordable brand has launched a new trio of colorful $5 reusable tote bags in its Foundation bag collection. For every bag sold, 100% of proceeds will benefit its Foundation’s work with One Tree Planted and WWF-Singapore to plant 1 million trees in essential areas.

Save The Duck’s spring collection features traceable padding

Animal-free brand Save The Duck’s new Good Vibes collection features menswear and womenswear made with sustainable materials. The $168-$298 range includes padded jackets, vests, shirts, pants and swimwear in hues of orange, yellow, green, blue, beige, black and more, all crafted with traceable materials. In particular, outerwear styles are made with the brand’s signature Recycled Plumtech — a polyester fiber padding made with recycled materials like plastic bottles — to further its mission of never using materials that harm animals.

Balmain and Evian Water drop sustainable capsule line

Balmain has teamed up with Evian Water on a sustainable capsule collection. The duo’s co-branded $70-$4,050 range includes men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, activewear and accessories in gradient hues of pink, white and blue, complete with Evian’s red logo. For an eco-friendly twist, all pieces include materials like 100% organic, GOTS-certified cotton and recycled polyester.

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Balmain x Evian’s mens’ sweatshirt.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Balmain

Essen The Label spotlights transparency with Renoon

Essen The Label has joined forces with sustainability platform Renoon in an effort to increase brand transparency and traceability. The brand first launched the initiative with its 199 EU (approximately $218 USD) Foundation flats, which will also expand across the rest of its business in May. Ultimately, Essen hopes the partnership will continue its mission of responsible manufacturing and distribution, as well as walking consumers through its supply chain stages.

Cariuma’s spring collection supports tree planting

Sustainable label Cariuma’s range of sneakers is back for spring. The brand’s vegan line, which ranges from $79-$169, features new lace-up, slip-on and high-top men’s and women’s styles in a palette of white, green, pink, black and purple. All are crafted with materials including recycled PET, bamboo, Mamona oil, sugarcane-based EVA and recycled plastics, and even give back to the earth; for every pair purchased, the brand will plant two trees.

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Cariuma’s Ibi Low women’s sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Cariuma

Tread Labs hits 10,000-mark for its refurbished shoes

Insole and shoe brand Tread Labs has refurbished nearly 10,000 insoles and sandals since it first launched in 2017. The brand’s $36-$72 refurbishment process is done by hand in its company headquarters over approximately one week, where insole top covers are swapped with recycled polyester replacements. The soles of its sandals, which are crafted with recycled yarns and zero-wasted knitting processes, are also resolable in Tread’s efforts to promote sustainability by extending the life of its products.
“We have a responsibility to make smart business decisions that have minimal impact on the planet,” said founder Mark Paigen in a statement. “Since we have a generous return policy and encourage customers to try multiple styles and arch heights to find their perfect fit, we were seeing many returns that had barely been used. It didn’t make sense to throw them away and create all that waste. Instead, we decided to give these like-new returns a second life with our refurbished program.”

Twisted X drops rice husk-infused sneakers

Carbon-neutral brand Twisted X has released its are sustainable spring collection, featuring a wide range of recycled plastics, factory waste and upcycled leather across sneakers, boots and sandals. The moment marks the brand’s latest collection since 2022, where all of its active styles included at least one sustainable element — particularly its newest $97 Kicks, a men’s sneaker with recycled foam footbeds, a rice husk-infused outsole and its signature ecoTweed lining.

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Twisted X’s mens’ Kicks sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Twisted X

UNIFORMED drops hand-dyed capsule collection

AAPI-owned brand UNIFORMED has launched a special collection for Earth Month. The sustainable brand’s line includes a $75-$195 capsule, featuring two blue and white sweatshirts and a matching tote bag. All pieces, crafted with deadstock organic cotton fabric, were handed by designer Jennifer Chun to adhere to the brand’s slow-produced, sustainable processes.

Nomasei releases upcycled spring sandals

Tuscan footwear brand Nomasei’s newest spring offering is the chic and sustainable Belle de Jour sandal — a short block-heeled style with thin buckled toe straps. The $385 stye notably includes up cycled leather uppers made from luxury houses’ stock, as well as recycled heels and Leather Working Group (LWG)-certified soles. In a palette of black, white or rainbow colors, there’s also a style for any aesthetic.

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Nomasei’s Belle De Jour sandals.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Nomasei

Find Me Now and Ema Gaspar collaborate with a cause

Sustainable fashion brand Find Me Now’s latest collection includes a collaboration with artist Ema Gaspar, featuring a $65 T-shirt with a multicolored Earth and butterfly print. 100% of the whimsical piece’s proceeds will be donated to nonprofit Girl Rising, which brings educational programming to girls worldwide.

Palladium’s organic Earth Day footwear

Palladium has released a range of high-impact sneakers and boots in its new Organic Line for Earth Day. Ranging from $95-$110, the men’s and women’s line features lug-soled boots and sneakers in hues of yellow, blue, brown and white. All include materials like organic cotton and vegan uppers for a sustainable twist.

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Palladium’s Palashock Organic 2 boots.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Palladium

Ferragamo launches sustainable flats and running sneakers

For Earth Day, Ferragamo is spotlighting its sustainably-made items in a new Earth Day Edit. The brand’s shoes for the occasion include its neutral $795 square-toed Flat Sandals — a chemical-free style with buckled ankle straps. The range also includes the brand’s new $995 Running Sneakers, a men’s and women’s style with knit recycled post-consumer polyester yarn uppers and metal-free leather lining. The style is available in a range of monochrome hues as well, including tan, red and orange.

Ferragamo, Earth Day, sustainability, environment, eco friendly, sneakers
Ferragamo’s Running sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Ferragamo

Ferragamo tells time with mineral-powdered watches 

Ferragamo’s Earth Day edit is tapping into timepieces, with the brand releasing an exclusive new take on their F-80 Skeleton watch. The $2,195 style utilizes a wide variety of eco-friendly materials. The piece’s case is made with 60% natural mineral-sourced ceramic powder, as well as 40% nylon with 63% renewable content. The style’s band is also made with TPU that includes 39% bio-based content. The style is now available in light pink and dark blue hues in Ferragamo’s boutiques and website.

Ferragamo, Earth Day, sustainability, environment, eco friendly, watches
Ferragamo’s F-180 watch.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Ferragamo

Dsquared2 drops eco-friendly Smurfs collection

Dsquared2‘s latest brand collaboration with its One Life One Planet line spotlights the nature-loving Smurfs, crafted in honor of Earth Month. The $115-$1,370 men’s and women’s capsule features a wide array of jeans, windbreakers, jackets, sweatshirts, button-down shirts, sweatshirts and T-shirts and knits; all feature Dan and Dean Caten’s signature red maple leaf, as well as cartoon prints of the beloved Handy Smurf, Brainy Smurf, Love Smurf, Papa Smurf and Smurfette. The blue, red and yellow-colored range is rounded out with sustainably made lace-up cotton canvas sneakers. You can shop the collection now in Dsquared2 stores and the brand’s website.

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Dsquared2 x Smurfs’ Smurf sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Dsquared2

Allbirds launches low-carbon Superlight sneaker line

Allbirds is giving its lightweight sneakers a low-carbon spin for Earth Day with its new Superlight collection — which also boasts the title of lightest commercially available shoes. The line has launched on Allbirds’ website, featuring two eco-friendly takes on its signature sporty styles: the $115 Superlight Tree Runner running sneakers and the $120 Superlight Trainer gym shoes. Each features carbon-neutral midsoles with its signature SweetFoam material, as well as uppers crafted with eucalyptus fibers, regenerative wool and recycled polyester. Both styles are now available on Allbirds’ website in men’s and women’s sizing in a tonal color palette of black, white, teal, taupe and olive green.

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Allbirds’ Superlight Tree Runner sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Allbirds

Dr. Scholl’s releases sustainable sandal edit

Dr. Scholl’s is highlighting their sustainable shoe styles in a new Earth Month edit. Originally ranging from $60-$140, the Sustainable Shoes edit features the brand’s staple men’s and women’s sandals, slip-ons and sneakers crafted with materials including recycled bottles, Sustera foam and waterless dyeing techniques. Additionally, for each style purchased, the brand will donate a tree to Trees for the Future — which focuses on developing land in communities worldwide.

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Dr. Scholl’s Northern sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Dr. Scholl's

Keen drops new sustainable sneakers and sandals

Keen is launching new eco-friendly shoe styles, just in time for Earth Month. The brand’s latest $140 Ellecity slides and $140 Ellecity Backstrap sandals feature wedged platforms with LWG-certified leather uppers and comfortable foam insoles. Meanwhile, its $130 Elle Mixed slides feature crossed LWG-certified leather straps, while the similar $135 Elle Mixed Strap sandals feature the same silhouette with an added back strap. The range is complete with its’ Harvest Collection’s newest $140 women’s Elsa and $140 Eldon men’s sneakers: low-top sneaker styles with patchwork uppers crafted from car seat scraps, complete with plant-based PU soles for lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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Keen’s Elsa sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Keen

SeaVees gives back during Earth Month

SeaVees is continuing its eco-friendly shoe initiatives for Earth Month, with $5 from every purchase made in April benefitting the SeaTrees program of nonprofit Sustainable Surf — which plants and restores blue carbon projects in various ecosystems. As part of the launch, the brand has also dropped three new men’s and women’s shoe styles. The first is the groove-soled $98 Melrose platform sneakers, featuring tabs made from vegan corn leather. The second features the $88 Royal Runner sneakers, made with Tencel Lyocell, organic cotton duck canvas uppers and recycled rubber outsoles. Rounding out the trio is a new shoe in SeaVees’ SeaChange line: its $88-$92 SeaChange LTT sneakers, crafted with white vegan corn leather uppers in hues of cream, black, red, brown and dark blue. All are now available on SeaVees’ website.

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SeaVees’ SeaChange LTT sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of SeaVees

Everlane goes low-carbon with new sneaker

In time for Earth Month, Everlane launched a new sneaker style created with the lowest CO2 emissions of any of its sneakers to-date — The Tread-Bare Sneaker. The shoe, which retails for $130, is made with recycled cotton and milk from Hevea trees, and is only 4.78 kg of CO2e. The stylish silhouette comes in three colorways: Canvas, Pale Pink and Multi, to suit a range of personal styles, seasons and occasions. The canvas laceup also has a natural latex rubber outsole and a padded foam collar for extra comfort. Additionally, Everlane has also released the limited-edition ReTrack Collection of casual wear, with all pieces in the apparel collection made from recycled materials.

Everlane Tread-Bare Sneaker low carbon
Everlane’s new Tread-Bare Sneaker has the lowest carbon footprint of any of its sneakers.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Everlane

Earth gives back to the community with park cleanup

In keeping with its name, Earth Shoes is highlighting its responsible footwear offerings in April, including the Genie sandal, made of 100 percent recycled materials. The vegan, slip-on flat style retails for $69 at Earthshoes.com. Additionally, the brand’s team is volunteering with Brooklyn Bridge Park in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Earth Day, spending their time helping with coastal cleanup and horticultural projects to give back to the community.

Earth Genie sandal
Earth Genie sandal
CREDIT: Courtesy of Earth

Urban Outfitters’ Green Light edit spotlights homeware

Urban Outfitters has released its Green Light edit for Earth Day. The retailer’s curation of pieces, which ranges from $8-$1,700, highlights colorful decorations, furniture and home goods crafted with sustainable practices and materials. The lineup, which includes brands addybambi, Lorena Canals, Avenie and PSTR Studio, is available now on UO’s website.

Patagonia encourages repairs with Worn Wear Repair kit

Patagonia — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — is encouraging re-wearing and repairing your wardrobe with a kit for Earth Month. The brand has just launched its new $49 Worn Wear Repair Kit, a rolled-up Fair Trade Certified kit that includes needles, sewing thread and Gear Aid repair patches to address holes, rips or tears in your clothing. The kit also features scannable QR codes to videos with repair tips, as well.

Kindly launches Beech tree-based intimates

Kindly, the sustainable, female-led intimates brand, has released its new spring collection with new eco-friendly materials for Earth Month. The brand’s colorful new purple, yellow, red and gray line of bras and briefs features two capsules: the Super Soft Modal and So Comfy lines, respectively made from Beech tree-sourced modal fabric and recycled nylon and Lycra Adaptive fiber spandex. Both are now exclusively available from $13-$23 on Walmart’s website.

Silk Laundry

Silk Laundry is launching its newest line of sustainable silk staples, “Perceptions,” ahead of Earth Day. The brand, whose OEKO-TEX certified pieces are responsibly crafted by artisan silk makers, features lightweight $170-$575 separates like slip dresses, shirts, pants and cardigans in hues of yellow, blue, rust and black — complete with delicate floral and bird prints. The new collection is now available on Silk Laundry’s website.

Silk Laundry, Earth Day, Earth Month, sustainability, sustainable collections, collections, spring collections, spring 2023, environment, environmentally friendly, green
Silk Laundry’s short sleeve boyfriend shirt.
CREDIT: Courtesy of Silk Laundry

State Cashmere drops new pure Kashmir goat knitwear styles

Sustainable cashmere brand State Cashmere is bringing environmental friendliness to the forefront in its spring collection. The AAPI-owned label’s men’s and women’s lines feature a new variety of $100-$175 sweaters and vests, crafted with its signature pure cashmere — which hails directly from Kashmir goats combed by Inner Mongolian shepherds. You can shop the new styles now on State Cashmere’s website.

DANZ releases BioLeather and SeaCell separates

Womenswear brand DANZ is utilizing eco-friendly materials for its new spring 2023 collection. The brand’s latest line is emphasizing its signature vegan BioLeather and chemical waste-free SeaCell fabric across a range of sleek separates, including pleated miniskirts, cutout tops, cropped jackets and cargo trousers. Ranging from $195-$795, the collection is now live on DANZ’s website.

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DANZ’s BioLeather cropped tailored leather jacket.
CREDIT: Courtesy of DANZ

Von Holzhausen launches new Liquidplant technology

Sustainable shoe and accessory brand Vol Holzhausen has introduced its ecologically friendly technologies to the lifestyle space for Earth Month. In addition to its innovative vegan Technik, Struktur and Banbū leathers, the brand has now launched Liquidplant — an agricultural waste-based topcoat made with corn sugar, castor and flaxseed oils, which can be used as a protective coating on animal and vegan leathers, textiles, paint and wood. The accomplishment follows the brand’s range of sustainable achievements over the last year, including the launch of its first shoe: the chic $295 Ballet flats, made from its signature Banbū leather — which uses 1/3 less water than other organic fibers.

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