TELL
ME MORE
Conversation with Helena Christensen and Cindy Bruna
Why have you decided to take part in this project?
Helena: It is very important that we all take our part of the responsibility towards a more sustainable future. It’s not easy to rid the world of plastic, we are so used to utilizing it daily in a myriad of ways. The fact that companies are changing their production approach is a first big step. We all need to support this effort.
Sustainability for you is?
Helena: Being smart about how I live on a daily basis, what I buy, how it’s made, making sure I recycle as much as possible. Thinking about all the ways to lower ones foot print.
Describe your sneaker: color, material and creation process. What inspired you for your sneaker model?
Helena: I chose to mix a lot of colors together because I am a huge lover of colors, perhaps because of my Peruvian heritage. My home is full of colors, my wardrobe is extremely colorful, colors just make me happy. So I chose powder pink, mint green, sky blue and I bright red.
I’m gonna give you the long description of the yatay shoe material;
The sneakers are made of “bio-polyols” - polymers extracted from cereals - as raw material for both lining, upper and sole. The lining material is a masterpiece of technology: it leaves your feet dry and fresh while caressing them with a softness higher than silk. It’s obtained from tree pulp harvest from 100% sustainable plantations. The insoles have tiny black flecks of recycled in them. It adds resiliency, cushioning and comfort at the same time as helping the environment.
Did you have fun on this project? What did you love most?
Helena: Picking the colors and seeing the sneakers for the first time. So cool to have ones own sneakers and at the same time be part of changing the world for the better, one pair of shoes at the time.
Your relation with ocean and pollution?
Helena: I am drawn to water in such a profound way, I have lived near water my entire life in one way or another. There is a deep yearning in me to be in water, perhaps I was a mermaid in my past life or maybe I will be one in my next. It is more than an obsession for sure, I try to be in water as much as possible whether it’s swimming in rivers or the ocean, walking Barefeet through a stream or going outside when it rains just to feel the water on my skin. But it pains me to see how polluted the planet has become, I am always picking up garbage and in particular plastic from beaches around the world, it makes me deeply frustrated, angry and also very sad to see how badly we treat Mother Nature and all the beautiful life in the sea.
"Sustainability is thinking about all the ways to lower ones foot print."
"I chose to mix a lot of colors together because I am a huge lover of colors, perhaps because of my Peruvian heritage."
. Why have you decided to take part in this project?
Cindy: I was raised in the South of France, on the beaches of the Mediterranean. But, as wonderful as that sounds, the mediterranean has become one of the most polluted seas on earth. I have decided to take part in this project because I want to show that the fashion industry can still make beautiful things without destroying our planet and our oceans.
. Sustainability for you is?
Cindy: Providing high quality of life without hurting our planet. And, for me, that starts with a different way of looking at the products we buy. Fashion is about beauty and style, but we should also be more concerned with how the product is made and if it follows sustainable rules.
. Describe your sneaker color, ect….
Cindy: My sneakers are white and blue and the laces are yellow. It's classic, minimal and trendy. The sneakers are 100% free of traditional plastic and relying entirely on innovative bio-based materials. It’s a really comfortable sneaker and easy to wear with everything.
During the creative process I tried different options and this one was the one that reflected the most my vibe. I love the bright colors. It's unexpected and timeless.
. Did you have fun on your project?
Cindy: The creative part was the most exciting, and to be able to see and wear your own design is such a wonderful reward.
. Your relation with the ocean and pollution
Cindy: To be honest I haven’t always been concerned about this issue. But more and more I’m becoming educated about it. It is shocking to see numbers and statistics about plastic presence and general pollution in our oceans.
I’m from the French Riviera, where plastic waste is a real problem. The Mediterranean Sea has, on average, the highest densities of plastics in the world. We must do our best to protect these havens and return them to health, not only for ourselves but also for generations to come.
"Fashion is about beauty and style, but we should also be more concerned with how the product is made and if it follows sustainable rules."
