Sneature, biodegradable sneakers made with the mycelium of mushrooms and the hair (naturally lost) of dogs

    These sock shoes by German designer Emilie Burfeind use only three totally biodegradable materials.

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    Unlike traditional shoes, which use between 8 and 12 different components and are almost impossible to disassemble and recycle, Sneature uses only three totally biodegradable materials.





    The fashion industry is among the most polluting in the world. Think of shoes, often put away after a short time, to produce a pair of different materials - including rubber, fabric and various plastics - making it almost impossible and unprofitable for companies to take them apart and recycle them after use. To tackle the problem and offer a solution, the German designer Emilie Burfeind has created ecological and biodegradable sock sneakers using only waste materials.

    Sneature, biodegradable sneakers made with the mycelium of mushrooms and the hair (naturally lost) of dogs

    © Emilie Burfeind

    The Sneature, a word game between sneakers and nature, was created using only three renewable bio-based materials. The sole is made with mushroom mycelium and the 3D woven upper made with plant residues and dog hair lost during grooming, and which otherwise would have been discarded.

    Unlike animals that are bred and kept solely for fiber production, dog hair is not an additional burden to the environment because it is a resource that exists regardless. These hairs are used to make a high quality yarn used historically by indigenous societies on the west coast of the United States.

    Sneature, biodegradable sneakers made with the mycelium of mushrooms and the hair (naturally lost) of dogs

    © Emilie Burfeind

    Instead, for the sole, the mycelium - the structure of the mushroom threads - is mixed with a cellulose substrate based on hemp and other agricultural waste products which will then be immersed in liquid natural rubber to make it water-repellent.

    “Since Sneature is made from biological waste materials, no energy is needed for their production, only for their further processing,” said Burfeind.

    In fact, the energy required for manufacturing and manufacturing processes such as spinning or 3D knitting is significantly less than for the extraction of petroleum-based raw materials, which significantly decreases the environmental impact in the production of a pair of shoes.



    Sneature, biodegradable sneakers made with the mycelium of mushrooms and the hair (naturally lost) of dogs

    © Emilie Burfeind

    This slip-on sneaker is basically a seamless sock, which is based on 3D knitting technology and is made exclusively from recycled and biodegradable materials. A project with great potential that could radically transform the shoe industry. Regarding the aesthetics, the judgment is yours.


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