Unsustainable fashion? Jelly shoes: the PVC plastic footware that's on trend, and brands looking for solutions
- Online searches for jelly shoes have significantly increased on fashion shopping platform Lyst after the sandals dominated this season’s catwalks
- The shoes, made almost entirely of PVC, have sparked environmental concerns, though some brands are testing recycling options
The footwear equivalent of Crayola crayons and lunchboxes, the jelly shoe is back for the summer. But with most of the shoe made from PVC, it might seem an odd trend for our plastic-anxious times.
Online searches for jelly sandals have significantly increased since April on fashion shopping platform Lyst. The 82 per cent month-on-month increase comes after the sandals dominated the season’s catwalks. At Alexa Chung they came elevated with jewels, while jelly sliders were decorated with feathers at Simone Rocha.
There are plenty of high street versions available from Asos to Next and New Look, where prices start at around £6.00 (US$7.50).
“From a consumer perspective they’re a really fantastic summer proposition,” says Lynn Wilson, a consultant and consumer researcher. They come in bright colours and are a real “fashion statement”.
