Sustainable is in fashion. And in this context, Cole Haan, the iconic American lifestyle brandsurprises in its evolution towards sustainability, through the launch of the Generation ZERØGRAND II. Is about a model made from vegan fabric, fibers from recycled material and a new natural rubber, obtained from the dandelion flower.
This is the brand’s first sustainable footwear: it reduces the footprint it has on the environment and is a way of offering products that are more environmentally responsible, without compromising guaranteed comfort. Generation ZERØGRAND II It is also a light and very comfortable product.
On the other hand, this new release is the inaugural product of the recent initiative “Change Forward” promoted by Cole Haan, which represents the active search that the brand has had in recent years to use recycled or natural materials for many of its products.
The engineering behind the shoe
Generation ZERØGRAND II is a revolutionary sneaker from the ground up. Its outsole is made with FlowerFoam (patent pending) made from a minimum of 25% natural dandelion rubber. The lightweight FlowerFoam outsole helps absorb impact while providing all-day responsive cushioning and energy return.
Additionally, its upper includes vegan microfiber suede made from 21% recycled content and reconstituted felt fabric made from 85% recycled plastic bottles (rPET). The laces are made from 100% rPET.
As for its Ortholite® Hybrid™ footbed, it’s made with 5% recycled rubber, 15% foam from production waste, and a fabric topsheet made from 100% rPET. As with all Cole Haan products, Generation ZERØGRAND II adheres to the natural design philosophy, which focuses on four main benefits: natural movement, responsive cushioning, energy return and breathability.
shoe design
Regarding its design, Scott Patt, creative director of Cole Haan, adds: “This is a significant step for the brand, since, in recent years, we have managed to position ourselves above all for the innovation and technology of our products, and with FlowerFoam™, we present the latest technological novelty to create shoes with recycled and natural components. We are expanding our natural design philosophy with the sustainability requirements that consumers expect.”
Regarding the above, Jack Boys, CEO of Cole Haan, points out “We believe that we all must do our part to protect the planet where we live. Cole Haan has always been and is now publicly committed to contributing to positive change in the future. So we work for what we believe. And now more than ever, saving Mother Earth requires a sense of urgency.”.