Queensland-born footwear label Holster has taken the next step in its sustainability efforts, investing in using material made from ocean waste in its footwear.
Known as PET filament, the new yarn is Holster’s investment in sustainable alternatives.
The process blends waste pulled from the ocean with textile waste, upcycling pollutants into a fabric that can be recycled indefinitely, with no loss of quality over time
Certified by the Global Recycled Standard, it takes 10 600ml plastic bottles produce one pair of sneaker uppers, making 3D knitting of recycled plastic yarn a sustainable manufacturing approach to reduce the world’s ecological footprint and improve the health of oceans, rivers and waterways.
Holster designer Natalie Miller said that the business plans to use the material across all of its knitted sneakers in the future.
"We are committed to inspiring others to shop vegan, cruelty-free fashion. Holster has the market covered with a broad offering of sandals, wedges, espadrilles, thongs and sneakers.
"We’ve always used natural, renewable, biodegradable materials such as cotton, jute and rubber but this is our most important step to reducing the world’s ecological footprint, improving climate change for the future, and adding sustainable, vegan options for our stylish clientele.
"We aim to replace all our knitted sneakers with the recyclable alternative by the end of 2021," she said.
Holster’s first series of recycled PET filament uppers will be seen in three new styles, Tempo, Gravitate and Brooklyn.