Cocorose London brings ‘game-changing fashion innovation’ to footwear sector

Independent and family-run fashion footwear business, Cocorose London, is making a ‘groundbreaking difference’ this Christmas, launching footwear that constitutes a product with purpose.

The London based business has pioneered and now launched a brand-new range of plant-powered cactus leather trainers that ticks all sustainable, vegan and recyclability boxes.

Called ‘Kew’, the range comes in five different colour options. All of the low-top trainers are handmade in Portugal from organic cactus leather. Each sports a durable sole with a composition that is 30 per cent recycled cork material, utilising discarded Portuguese wine corks.

Despite working with this brand-new material, a very viable alternative to animal and synthetic leather, the trainers do not compromise on Cocorose London’s “devotion to comfort”.

Cocorose London’s founder, Janan Leo, commented: “The launch of the range marks a watershed for Cocorose London but also for the wider fashion and footwear industry.

“We are offering women a truly sustainable choice that can align with their 21st century lifestyle and principles. It is plant-powered footwear with purpose and created with a timeless aesthetic, so as to appeal to as many environmentally concerned, and other women who are not necessarily vegan, as possible.”

Named Kew, in honour of the Royal Botanic Gardens Kew and the work it does to support plants as the crucial cornerstones of global biodiversity, this range has been brought to fruition with the support of Innovate UK, the UK’s innovation agency.

Cactus leather was a natural choice for this sustainability-focused project, with cacti plants being natural carbon sinks. A plantation of 14 acres can absorb around 8,000 tons of carbon but is also very considerate when it comes to not requiring vital water resources.

The launch of the range was the next step in the sustainability journey of a brand that already has shoe recycle and plant-a-tree schemes and which is a firm advocate of slow fashion and small-batch production.

Janan added: “We are proud to again be leading the way, this time in shoe sustainability, especially as we are just a small SME with very limited resources. It demonstrates that what is truly important, as a driver of change in the fashion industry, is passion and commitment, along with a clear vision and goal.”

By Matthew Neville – Senior Correspondent, Bdaily

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