ECO KICKS
Although Stone usually works with leather, she decided on a different tack. “With the Vans project, I had to think about how to make them special without using leather, and also how the Vans girl was going to wear them,” Stone told Racked. “That’s when I decided to use the recycled canvas. It felt super luxurious; it has a nap that makes it feel like kid suede, but it’s durable and practical and of course the eco-component is the most important.”
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The shoes aren’t completely animal-free, however. They incorporate Vans’s patented washable “UltraCush Eco” footbed, which—bummer for vegans—is lined with suede.
Still, Stone says she considers the ecological impact of every decision she makes. “I’m a surfer—albeit not a very good one—and I have to take care of my environment,” she said. “Every season I try to make better choices for materials and manufacturing.”