Pineapple trainers? It’s not as odd as it sounds and certainly Nike doesn’t seem to think so. The sportswear giant has just released its “Happy Pineapple” collection counting six trainer models that use a material called Piñatex® derived from the spiky tropical fruit. The collaboration marks the first time in its history that the brand has used a bio-material in place of leather.
A.S. Roma footballer Chris Smalling, a committed vegan and former Manchester United defender, is an investor in the company that has developed the product. Based in London’s Somerset House, Ananas Anam is the brainchild of Dr. Carmen Hijosa who wanted to find a sustainable alternative to leather having spent 15 years in the design and manufacturing of leather goods. Remarkably, she founded the company in her sixties having completed a PhD in textiles at London’s Royal College of Art as a mature student. She soon attracted investors, including footie star Smalling who’s also proved to be the perfect high-profile ambassador, asserting his influence on Nike, a loyal sponsor of his for many…
