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This article was first published in the April 2016 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Created using yarn spun from recycled ocean plastic and illegal deep-sea nylon gillnets, the limited-edition Adidas x Parley shoe is manufactured using the same automated knitting process as Adidas's Primeknit Boost. This results in zero waste by creating the shape needed, with no excess material to cut away. Designer Alexander Taylor has added turquoise stitching to echo the colour of fishing net strands. £tbc
Ammo Liao Bio-Knit
The mixture of materials used to construct the average pair of trainers makes them tricky to recycle. Taiwanese designer Ammo Liao's Bio-Knit shoes, however, are woven from a single type of polymer thread, making them a greener proposition. A variety of weaving patterns is used to tailor flexibility and add extra reinforcement where necessary. £tbc* *
Francis Bitonti for United Nude Mutatio
Each pair of New York-based designer Francis Bitonti's Mutatio heels features a unique geometric structure, created by slightly tweaking the algorithms that produce the digital model. It is then 3D-printed in nylon and plated in 18-carat gold, rather than being built from solid metal, to keep the shoe's weight down. £tbc
Ut.lab Light wing Trainers
Constructed from 0.3mm-thick Tyvek, a material typically used as a membrane for home insulation, Unbelievable Testing's Light Wings are rip-resistant, water-resistant, breathable and washable. They also weigh in at an incredibly light 150g per shoe. Inside the trainer, a Poliyou insole fights microbes and odours. $75
Cole Haan ZerøGrand No Stitch Oxford
The ZerøGrands mixes formality with a sports sole for natural foot movement. The upper's rugged polyurethane and polyester rip-stop pieces are joined together using electromagnetic welding, resulting in a stitchless construction. Laser-cut perforations improve ventilation and reduce weight to just 290g. $248
PikkPack Slip-on
Inspired by the traditional Hungarian Bocskor shoe, Pikkpack's range of flat-packed footwear is designed to be assembled at home from just a single piece of leather and a couple of shoelaces. The kits come in brown or black leather, with four colour options for the sole and 14 for the laces. From $89
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
