German high-end sneaker brand Nat-2 has launched their newest sustainably made, 100% vegan sneakers – and they’re made with genuine cannabis leaves.
The design of the sneakers is “an homage to festivals and freedom”, with leaves sourced from sustainably grown industrial hemp.
The patented sustainable hemp material was developed in Germany and Austria, and covers 50% of the shoe. Manufacturers apply hemp leaves to a natural “eco-flax-layer” of the uppers of the sneakers so that the leaves are visibly intact in the final product. As a result, each pair of nat-2 vegan cannabis sneakers are completely unique featuring leaves in varying sizes.
The glue used to bind the shoe is completely free from animal byproducts, while the faux suede material is made from recycled PET bottles. As well as being 100% vegan, the sneakers are unisex with an antibacterial cork insole.
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The company, who have previously used a diverse range of recycled materials such as plastic bottles and coffee grounds, is lead by founder and designer Sebastian Thies. This is a sixth generation shoemaker whose family has been making shoes since 1856. Nat-2 launched their first vegan sneakers in 2016 using wood in place of animal-derived materials and byproducts.