Hasta La Ideas

Biodegradable sneakers with looks good enough to literally wear into the ground

While sustainable shoes up until now tended to either look suited for Middle Earth or were limited to recyclable and repurposed options, Oat Shoes signals a welcome leap forward in the market with their cleanly-styled, fully biodegradable sneakers.

Founder Christiaan Maats took on the seemingly-impossible challenge of designing and fabricating decomposable footwear as a continuation of his graduation project in product design. After over two years in development, the Amsterdam-based label finally introduced prototypes of its Virgin Collection, a brilliantly-conceived lineup of kicks constructed from hemp canvas, bio-cotton, cork and certified biodegradable plastic, earning the fledgling company second prize at the Green Fashion Awards last January.

A pair of Oats can literally be buried in a garden (or tossed in a compost pile) after use, although that’s not likely to happen too immediately—versatile and laid-back, the subtly colorful soles will keep you looking fresh through seasons to come. Even more, hemp canvas is naturally antibacterial and a fantastic moisture-wicker, which also extends wearability.

The Virgin Collection’s four styles, two high tops and two-low tops, will be available for purchase this spring on the Oat Shoes website for €140-150.