Are you ready for the latest sneaker design? This one comes in the form of #RENS shoe that has been designed by designers in Helsinki, Finland. #RENS chose the name for representing positive change and pulled the word from different languages where it is described as clean, neat, and feeling awesome. Keeping this goal in mind, the #RENS sneaker has been crafted using sustainable materials such as recycled coffee and features qualities that everyone can appreciate in a shoe.
Each pair of the #RENS shoe has a mix of coffee yarn (obtained from used coffee grounds) and recycled polyester (created using post-consumer plastic). As per the company, each pair of shoe is the equivalent of 21 cups of coffee and six plastic bottles. The sustainability aspect of the shoe is highlighted using the knit upper, inside lining, and removable insole that have been made using yard created from coffee grounds.
CEO Jesse Tran said, ‘It’s unbelievable how giant companies churn out millions of unsustainable products, using unsustainable materials and doing very little to mitigate their impact.’ You might ask why coffee? The makeup of coffee allows the #RENS shoe to have small pockets in the material that can offer a variety of benefits. Starting with the most obvious is the air-flow as it keeps the shoe breathable. The natural antibacterial qualities of coffee also make #RENS odor-resistant. Further benefits include quick-drying and moisture-wicking qualities, and the design is completely waterproof.
#RENS also offers lightweight feel with each pair weighing in at only a single pound. The external material is UV-resistant. It is a slip-on design, thus giving you the ease when you are putting them on or taking them off. The co-founder Son Chu said, ‘Jesse and I are both young sneakerheads who are also concerned about the origin and impact of the shoes we wear. It felt like no one was making an eco-friendly option for us — for our generation. So, we decided to make one ourselves.’
