Ever since we launched Promo for the Planet in April, my inbox has been inundated with notifications about the latest innovations in sustainable apparel – particularly brands that are experimenting with nontraditional textiles, like apple leather or cocoa beans. Sometimes, the creations are simply marketing stunts rather than a product that will eventually be available at retail – or in promo. But even then, it’s fascinating to see what companies come up with and how they might influence fashion at large.

These are just a few of the more interesting tidbits I’ve come across recently. Let’s judge them!

Just Call These Apple Leather Sneakers ‘Foodwear’

Italian footwear brand ADAR is using Kickstarter to fund the production of its vegan sustainable sneakers.

ADAR, a new Italian footwear brand founded by Luca Matteo Manuzzi and Willy Anne Wijnja, combines “ethical design with luxury quality to create new-era premium high-fashion sneakers.” The company took to Kickstarter to fund the production of the Waver, its vegan sustainable sneakers, and as of July 27 has already surpassed its goal.

The handmade unisex low-top sneakers are sourced and made in Italy at a family-owned manufacturer. They feature an outsole made from recycled rubber, an upper made from vegan apple leather and recycled polyester, an inner lining made from bamboo fibers and an insole made with apple leather on a soft cushion of recycled and biodegradable latex. A portion of future sales of every sneaker will go toward funding the Lady Ripple bee initiative, helping to build more beehives across Tuscany.

“Our mission is to design ethical luxury products for consumers who value aesthetics and craftsmanship as much as sustainability,” Manuzzi says.

The creators also say the Waver’s gender-neutral design and thick sole are comfortable and on-trend, and the “complex patchwork upper made from apple leather patches over recycled polyester creates a unique sporty look and allows for breathability and airflow.”

Verdict: I’m not in love with the chunky design aesthetic, but I love how every part of the sneaker is sourced from sustainable materials and will be assembled by artisans in Italy. It would definitely feel good to walk a mile in these shoes.

Promo Potential: Suppliers have already bitten into apple-derived products. Castelli USA (asi/44305), a division of Top 40 supplier The Magnet Group (asi/68507), offers a line of ApPeel journals, with paper made from apple pulp and vegetable fibers and bound in an apple-based “eco-peel” cover.

We All Scream for Cocoa Bean Couture

Magnum partnered with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen for this 3-D printed dress using a polymer derived from cocoa bean husks.

Magnum – yes, the ice cream brand – made a splash at Paris Fashion Week earlier this month debuting a vegan haute couture dress made from cocoa bean husks. It was part of a marketing stunt to raise awareness for its line of nondairy vegan ice cream bars.

The brand partnered with Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen on the dress, which features intricate details including plant-like body embellishments that were copper-coated, draped and entwined with upcycled organza. Other elements were 3-D printed using selective laser sintering (SLS) technology. The cocoa bean husks were processed to create a fully organic biopolymer material for 3-D printing. Magnum says it wants to support van Herpen’s vision of “a fully sustainable production chain within the fashion industry and beyond.” The partnership was just its first step toward a wider ambition of circularity in the fashion world, according to Magnum.

Linking ingredients used in Magnum vegan ice cream with haute couture really allowed van Herpen to “push the boundaries of design” further than before, the designer said.

Verdict: I’m a sucker for chocolate, so a dress made from cocoa beans should be a no-brainer. Of course, calling this a dress is a bit of a stretch, since it lacks something I would consider a defining feature of said garment, namely a skirt. Still, this remarkably well-crafted, flourish-heavy bodysuit is an excellent example of how an unexpected brand collaboration can pay off.

Promo Potential: Haute couture is miles away from retail, let alone the promotional products industry, but it’s worth keeping an eye on as designers address sustainability and circularity in fashion. Their solutions may eventually trickle down to the broader apparel industry.

Beach, Beer, Boardshorts & Branding!

Pacifico and Quiksilver included a number of sustainable elements in this branded merch collection.

Beer brand Pacifico partnered with Quiksilver, a maker of surf-inspired apparel and accessories, for a line of sustainably made branded merch. The Quiksilver x Pacifico collection features T-shirts and wovens, boardshorts, hats, flip-flops, a beach towel and a tote bag.

The collaboration made sense, according to the two brands, because both share a foundation in “sustainability, surf and adventure.” Pacifico beer was originally introduced to the U.S. by California surfers who visited Baja. The brand partners with The Conservation Alliance to preserve North America’s wild landscapes and waterways. Quiksilver has been around since 1969, and so far has repurposed more than 245 million plastic bottles and avoided more than 254 million tons of carbon emissions through the use of recycled materials, organic cotton and natural dyes in production, according to the company.

The Quiksilver x Pacifico capsule collection includes hats made of a material created by recycling South American fishing nets. Other sustainable elements include boardshorts made from recycled plastic bottles, hats embroidered with recycled yarns and tees made from 100% organic cotton.

As part of the collab, the two brands also organized beach cleanups at the beginning of July.

Verdict: The sustainability story of this branded merch collection really elevates it into something end-users would be excited to wear. I’ve never surfed a day in my life (and people who know about the time – just a few months ago – I fell off my bike after brushing against a stone wall will understand why) but I could see myself rocking one of these tees or wrapping myself in the beach towel after a day at the pool.

Promo Potential: This is a great example of pairing clients with merch that matches their values. Tying the collection’s launch to a beach cleanup both reinforces their eco-minded message and gives the partnership that coveted element of experiential marketing.

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