These Sneakers Made From Invasive-Fish Leather Give Reef Decline The Boot

As more and more consumers shy away from animal-based leather goods, it wouldn’t seem like the right time to introduce a material made out of lionfish. The twist, however, is that unlike other creatures killed for their skin, this species is highly invasive, and has been the foe of many marine wildlife habits all over the world.

The lionfish has no known predators, making it difficult to cull with its quick spawning rate. Furthermore, it’s reported that an average lionfish kills 79% of baby native reef fish within just five weeks, making it a big risk to the environment as a whole.

The concept of turning lionfish into eco-leather was first introduced by Inversa Leathers, a company pioneered by scuba-diving enthusiasts. Now, the firm is partnering with Italian footwear brand P448 for a unique collection that uses lionfish leather as an alternative for sneakers.

Its shoe collection will offer the P448 sneaker—retailing for US$325—in five different colorways, including red, pink, blue, silver, and black, which will be sold in a limited edition run at the Le Bon Marché department store in Paris, France. 

As per Input, each pair of sneakers equates to one lionfish being removed from the ocean, so you can feel good about the thousands of reef fish you’ve saved in the process. 

Impressively, according to WWD, the project has won over backers from local fishermen and biologists, having worked with cooperatives in Quintana Roo, Mexico by providing upfront financing and a 100% catch-to-cash guarantee for the lionfish. 

Plus, any leftover fish is filleted and sold to restaurants, and the remainder is used for baits and oils to ensure no part of the product is wasted. 

As Deepika Nagarajan, Chief Marketing Officer of Inversa Leathers, put it, invasive species are a “human-caused problem,” and now it’s up to us to “step up to the responsibility.” 

[via WWD and Input, images via Inversa Leathers]