Brand: Good News x H&M
Model: Seven sneakers and one pair of slides
Release Date: April 1 globally, then April 14 in Denmark (online only), Sweden, Norway & Finland; April 22 in Turkey; May 6 in the US and Canada
Price: €29.99 to €100
Buy: At hm.com and in selected H&M stores
What We’re Saying: H&M has teamed up with UK footwear brand Good News on a collection of sneaker and slides, marking the fashion retailer’s first-ever footwear collaboration. The collection counts seven sneakers and a pair of slides.
Good News was founded five years ago by Nia Jones and Ben Tattersall with the overarching goal of “decreasing our carbon, chemical and water footprint, whilst caring for the people who make our shoes”. In both their previous roles within the fashion industry, Jones and Tattersall witnessed how harmful footwear production can be to the environment and those working in it, so Good News was founded to address these issues and offer a less environmentally impactful alternative.
To achieve this, they use materials such as recycled or natural rubber for the soles, GOTS-certified organic cotton uppers and laces, recycled metal eyelets, and water-based glue that’s free from harmful chemicals. They also take action by donating deadstock and faulty shoes to the homeless and refugees in need.
The collaboration counts seven easy-to-wear sneakers and one colorful pair of slides, all of which make use of Good News' library of innovative materials. For example, the black low-cuts boast an upper made from Bananatex — a fiber woven from banana plants –while the hightops' uppers are 60 percent organic cotton and 40 percent recycled cotton from textile waste. Another innovative material used in the collection is Vegea – a leather alternative made from grapes – which features on the classic, white running-inspired sneaker. For the soles, the collection uses a mix of regular rubber, recycled thermoplastic rubber, and Bloom Algae EVA.
On the collab, Good News co-founder Tattersall says: “Hopefully we can inspire action and change for other brands. We all need to work alongside each other to help create a positive change. The world needs unity right now rather than competing against each other.”
The collection is available now at hm.com.
