Lenzing Group (Lenzing) announced its plans to enter the footwear segment. During the launch, they will also showcase its unique and globally acclaimed concept of the botanic shoe in India. Globally, Lenzing has partnered with brands such as UGG, Converse, Native, Gant, TOMS, Allbirds, Alceste, Veja, H&M, Soludos and Leguano for sustainable footwear. Taking the commentary on sustainable footwear forward, TENCEL™ for footwear is conceptualized using source ingredients from nature. By substituting multiple components of the shoe with TENCEL™ fibers, the shoe has a healthy mix of performance, sustainability and versatility for footwear connoisseurs. With 24.2 bn pairs of shoes created globally in 2018 alone, there’s an urgent need for sustainable alternatives with performance features to the current ones available in the market.
The launch of this botanic shoe comes at a time when the Government of India has committed to ending the use of single-use plastic in the coming years. With a strong presence of TENCEL™ features such as Sustainability (raw material wood from responsibly managed forestry, environmentally friendly production process, compostability), Comfort (breathability, smooth to the skin) Performance (moisture management, reduced bacteria growth) which make the TENCEL™ fibre shoes as a perfect option for the current footwear industry
Speaking on this launch, Pranesh Shridharan, Head of Business Innovation, AMEA – Lenzing said, “Consumers today are extremely conscious. They are aware of the implications their purchases will have on the environment and are open to making an informed decision. Today’s youth are looking at alternatives whether its for apparel, accessories or even beauty. Keeping this trend in mind and with GOI’s push green solutions, we believe its an extremely important time for us to be in India and partner with footwear brands that are looking for sustainable solutions with strong performance features.
The possibilities range from the textile fibre in the upper material, as a filling material or a nonwovens fleece in the inner sole through to LENZING™ Lyocell powder in the outer sole or the padding. Likewise, shoelaces and the supporting material for zippers are possible. The more shoe components are made of TENCEL™ Lyocell/modal fibers, the closer we are getting to the vision of a bio-degradable shoe.”
TENCEL™ fiber used and the material construction to create the shoe require no special care, making it all season friendly.
