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.

A retrospective book sheds new light on one of fashion’s most pivotal ’80s designers

Although regrettably most famous for bankrupting Lanvin (costing them a reported $50 million), a new book delves into why Claude Montana was one of the most sought-after fashion designers that defined the ’80s and continues to be an underlying force behind today’s styles. “Claude Montana: Fashion Radical,” co-authored with fashion journalist Marielle Cro, gives a retrospective look at the French designer’s aggressive tailoring, dramatic silhouettes and bold use of color.

Montana was awarded two Golden Thimble Awards during his time at Lanvin, producing groundbreaking collections season after season. A consummate artist, Montana’s incredible sketches are sprinkled throughout the book and are complimented by equally compelling photos. The visual narrative shows how each ensemble was like an entire work of art, clearly conceived down to every detail.

Beginning by defining the “Montana Woman,” which he sees as “a traveller, an adventuress in some faraway place,” the book includes a self-exploration of his work in an art-house critique, taking the reader into his mind and showing Montana’s articulate design language. Throughout the book his growth as a designer reveals itself in what amounts to an intimate portrait of not just the man, but the legacy of high fashion in one of the most fashion-obsessed decades of the 20th century.

“Claude Montana: Fashion Radical” is available through Amazon as a pre-order and releases nationwide 1 April 2010.