Save the Ocean, Buy Adidas

Every year, several million tons of plastic waste end up in the ocean, seriously endangering the ecosystem and ultimately our own life space. Oceans are the livelihood of Earth and of humankind. The vast bodies of water produce more than half the oxygen in the atmosphere that we use to breathe. According to the Ocean Conservatory, over 690 species have been documented to be negatively impacted by plastic waste in the ocean. With ocean waste at an all time high, it’s important to remember that “if the ocean dies, we die.”

This startling knowledge propelled Adidas into an unexpected collaboration with Parley for the Oceans. Adidas announced that they would be updating the EQT Support ADV sneaker to be made of yarn from upcycled plastic waste collected from beaches and coastal communities in the Maldives. This running shoe’s structure reflects the ’90s while also calling upon its ocean origin with two color combinations. One color combo features contrasting navy and turquoise stitching, while the other style has white and turquoise accents. Additionally, The freeflowing stitch design creates a wavy pattern to emulate ocean crests. Another perk of these shoes is the mid-range price of $160.

“Living in urban areas, our relationship with the health of the earth’s oceans is sometimes easy to overlook—this collaboration seeks to create a change,” said a spokesperson for Adidas in a press release.

With a focus exclusively on our oceans, the Adidas and Parley collaboration is unlike anything created before. The result of this collaboration was the creation of the world’s first ever shoe to be made from ocean waste. Upcycling plastic waste into an actual wearable tennis shoe created a new buzz around the two companies.

Like the shoe, Parley for the Oceans has a unique story that made the perfect partner for Adidas on this project. The organization was founded by Cyril Gutsch in 2012 when he made the drastic decision to convert his design agency into an environmental organization. Gutsch’s goal is to encourage other designers to stop using what he calls the “plastic drug.” In an interview with Dezeen Magazine, Gutsch said, “We need to reinvent plastic. We have to redesign the material, and question some of the product categories. We want to invent our way out of this.”

Parley for the Oceans views collaboration and creativity as the only solution to ending the problem of marine plastic pollution. Although it may seem like a lesson we learned in kindergarten, it’s important to remember the old saying as we try to attack this life altering environmental problem: “Teamwork makes the dream work.”

Through Parley’s A.I.R. (Avoid, Intercept, Redesign) strategy, there are effective guidelines for doing our part in saving the oceans. The first step is simple: avoid plastic at all times. No plastic bags at the grocery store, no microbeads in our soaps and body washes and remember to bring your own tumbler for your Starbucks latte instead of using their plastic cups. Next, Parley encourages us to intercept all plastic before it even has the chance to enter an ocean. Finally, by designing new products and innovative ways to implement them, we can ultimately eliminate the use of plastic all together.

written by Kaylee Spahr

styled by Coquise Frost & Olivia Petas

models: Ryan Steffan & Markelle Kallibjian

photographed by Annabel Meals