Oct 09, 2025

Stella McCartney S-Wave

A plant-based sneaker with a compostable sole

Jenna Igneri

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Jenna Igneri

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Courtesy Stella McCartney

An estimated 22 billion shoes are sent to landfill every year—but Stella McCartney’s new S-Wave Sport Sneaker is one step toward a more responsible future. “Every part of it incorporates conscious materials,” McCartney says. Each shoe is vegan and features a pineapple leaf yarn-knit upper, but its biggest breakthrough lies in its sole, which is crafted from BioCir Flex, a non-toxic material made by Balena. Engineered from biodegradable polymers and plant-based components, it’s as durable as polyurethane and as flexible as rubber, but “can be recycled or composted—leaving no waste or negative impact on Mother Earth,” McCartney says.

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