Adidas' Most Iconic Sneakers Just Got an Eco-Friendly Makeover

The Adidas Stan Smith has had a sustainable makeover with the help of a rather surprising material: Mushroom.

The Stan Smith Mylo™ is made, more specifically, using Mycelium: "a sprawling, renewable interlaced web that threads through soil", which ultimately produces mushrooms. Scientific American breaks it down, explaining that "it's the fungus mushrooms are made of, but it can also produce everything from plastics to plant-based meat to a scaffolding for growing organs." Not bad for a fungus.

As you've likely heard by now, the fashion industry is the second biggest polluter in the world, and according to a University of Queensland sustainability report, we currently send a whopping "85% of the textiles we buy to landfill each year."

As a result, big brands like Adidas are exploring innovative and eco-friendly materials that could help mitigate fashion's negative impact on the environment. Amy Jones Vaterlaus, the Global Head of Future at Adidas has heralded the new Mylo™ material as "a major step forward in our bold ambition to help end plastic waste."

This unique concept was made possible through Adidas's partnership with Bolt Threads, a biotechnology company dedicated to creating the next generation of advanced materials by harnessing proteins found in nature to create unique, earth-friendly fibres and fabrics.

Now you may be wondering, how does one make a leather-like material made from mushrooms?

According to Bolt Threads, they "start by reproducing what happens under the forest floor in a controlled indoor environment. We take spores of mycelia cells and feed them sawdust and organic material while controlling the humidity and temperature." The Mycelium then grows into a big foamy layer similar in texture to marshmallows, which are then harvested, processed and dyed to create Mylo. The resulting material is a sustainable alternative to leather, perfect for footwear, handbags, clothing and wallets.

So, what specific part of the iconic Stan Smith tennis shoe is made from Mylo? It appears on the sneaker's outer upper, perforated three stripes, heel tab overlay, and premium branding are all crafted from the sustainable material. The shoe's midsole, however, is made using natural rubber.

Adidas isn’t the only brand Bolt Threads has partnered with.

Kering, Lululemon, and eco-fashion queen Stella McCartney, are also all part of the Mylo consortium.

Stella McCartney was actually the first to debut Mylo in March 2021, in an exclusive Vogue feature. Her creations—a bustier top and utilitarian trousers—were handcrafted from panels of Mylo on recycled nylon scuba and worn by model and environmentalist Paris Jackson.

If you are keen to get your hands (or feet) on a pair of Adidas Stan Smith Mylo™, you may need to wait. These eco-friendly shoes are currently a concept shoe and aren't available for purchase yet. Adidas reportedly plans to release a small batch at the end of 2021 and scale up from there.

Keep an eye out to snag a pair for yourself once they're released.

Looking for sustainable sneakers you can buy today? Why not check out these algae roamers (approved in advance by Jason Momoa.)