More kilometers, less waste: this is the latest green initiative from ID.EIGHT, the Tuscan brand of sustainable sneakers made with materials derived from food industry waste. A partnership has been signed with DisanaPianta, a Brescia-based artisanal workshop specializing in sneaker repairs and restorations. Thanks to this collaboration, ID.EIGHT customers will be able to extend the life of their shoes by relying on a specialized repair service that uses the same eco-friendly materials used to make them.
Today, a pair of sneakers has an average lifespan of 600 to 800 kilometers, after which they are often thrown away. Disposal of shoes in general, and sports shoes in particular, is no small matter: of the 24.2 billion pairs of shoes produced globally each year, experts say most end up in landfills or incinerators because there are simply too many shoes and not enough recycling solutions (World Footwear Yearbook data). ID.EIGHT aims to double the distance covered by its sneakers, thanks to a sustainable option: repair.
The DisanaPianta workshop, founded nine years ago in Brescia by Federica Sofia and Nicola Buono, specializes in the restoration and reconstruction of footwear, especially sneakers, adopting a creative and sustainable approach.
The laboratory, which uses upcycling techniques, thanks to a period of training with the ID.EIGHT team, is now able to modify the structure of the sneakers with pre-used materials, surplus fabrics derived from food waste, and technical materials with low environmental impact.
This way, the shoes not only look like new and last over time, but, if the customer wishes, they can be further enhanced with customized repairs, making their sustainable sneaker even more unique.
This service will allow customers to regenerate their shoes, extending their lifespan by hundreds of kilometers, thus contributing to waste reduction and promoting more responsible consumption. Federica Sofia, founder of DisanaPianta, is enthusiastic about this new challenge: " We've always worked with leather, but ID.EIGHT's philosophy immediately won us over. We share the same values and we challenged ourselves, experimenting with creative repairs and customizations using their materials. We love the idea that a shoe can be regenerated, becoming unique and tailored to the customer. "
Not just regeneration, ID.EIGHT sneakers, in addition to being genderless, include continuous models, from season to season, against overproduction: they are made with materials deriving from the transformation of food waste, such as apple peels (Uppeal), pineapple leaves (Pinatex) and corn and mycelium (BioVeg).
Added to these are technical fabrics made from recycled polyester and organic cotton, used for the upper, lining, and insole. Today, over 70% of the components of ID.EIGHT sneakers are made from recycled materials. The packaging is also designed to reduce environmental impact: the boxes are made from recycled paper and contain a "seed bomb" to contribute to biodiversity and the protection of bees. Finally, they are VVV+ certified (Animal Free Fashion, the LAV certification), making them 100% cruelty-free.
Giuliana Borzillo and Dong Seong Lee, the brand's founders, stated: " This collaboration marks an important step forward towards more sustainable and responsible fashion, offering consumers not only products made with low-impact materials, but also a concrete way to extend their lifespan by reducing waste. We are thrilled to collaborate with two pioneers like Federica and Nicola, who share our project and philosophy ."
Id.Eight will handle sending the shoes to Disanapianta for repair, ensuring safe and timely delivery. Once the repair is complete, Id.Eight will return the sneakers to the customer, ensuring continuous and efficient service.
ID.EIGHT is the sustainable, cruelty-free, and genderless sneaker brand founded in Florence in 2019 by South Korean designer Dong Seon Lee and Italian product manager Giuliana Borzillo. ID.EIGHT sneakers are made with materials derived from food industry waste—such as apple peels, grape stalks and skins, and pineapple leaves. The brand has already received major awards, including the Pitti Immagine special prize in the Vogue and Altaroma Who is on Next competition, the Green Product Award 2020, and the CALLforFASHION from the MIP incubator in Florence.
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CONTACTS
ID.EIGHT Press Office: Serena Gasparoni sere.gasparoni@gmail.com
Cell: 3405601016
