P448’s Latest Shoe Capsule Features Vibram Soles Made with Biobased Materials

P448 has teamed up with Vibram for its latest eco-friendly footwear capsule.

Created as part of the Italian shoe brand’s Project Sustainability initiative, the new P448 x Vibram eco-friendly line for men and women includes two footwear styles, a hybrid sneaker-hiker and thong sandal. Each shoe features the Vibram Ecostep natural sole, which is made with 90 percent natural biobased materials, as well as a midsole made of sugarcane and bamboo.

The hybrid sneaker-hiker upper consists of recycled polyester lining, microfiber and knit materials, while the sandal uses algae in the footbed and in the thong portion of the shoe.

“Repurposing waste algae into useful materials prevents it from decomposing and releasing CO2 and other harmful greenhouse gasses, reducing carbon emissions,” Sabrina Cohen, chief sustainability officer for P448, said in a statement. 

To minimize unnecessary packaging, P448 said it will ship the capsule in a 100 percent water resistant, thermal sealed drybag made from Vibram’s rubber StratX. The bag can double as a backpack or monostrap bag after the shoes are removed, P448 said.

“Our intent was to create a product that took the brand experience beyond the shoes with a full integration into the consumer’s daily adventures,” Cohen added. “The drybag saves over two pounds of paper waste per order by eliminating the shoe box.”

Wayne Kulkin, executive chairman of P448 parent company StreetTrend, called Vibram the ideal partner for this collection. “With this collaboration, we are gaining traction broadening our product reach to now include the outdoor enthusiast,” Kulkin said.

“P448 is a great partner for Vibram and this new collection is a true celebration of how Vibram technologies pair so well with the streetwear aesthetics of P448,” Fabrizio Gamberini, global chief brand officer and president of Vibram, added. “Our shared values of empowering individuals with thoughtfully designed footwear come through confidently in this new collection which we are proud to launch.”

To help launch the capsule, P448 has tapped pro surfer Balaram Stack to star in the campaign, which will appear on P448 and Vibram’s social channels.

The hybrid sneaker-hiker, priced at $298, and the thong sandals, priced at $185, are now available at P448.com and at the P448 store at 663 5th Avenue in New York City.