nat-2 launches sustainable high-end footwear made from upcycled milk

the over production of milk in factories has resulted in unused milk not suitable for drinking, yet nat-2 designer sebastian thies thought of another use. the munich-based designer paired up with german bio-engineer anke domaske from qmilk and created  the nat-2 milk sneakers: sustainable unisex shoes made from non-food milk. the footwear is handmade in italy using a real cork insole, rubber outsole and vegetable tanned lining.

nat-2 boasts a significant product catalogue, all designed by thies, and now adds the milky pair. the sneakers come in both the high-top and low-top styles and include a variety of colors. some even combine the patented milk-felt with leather on the heel for a more elegant aesthetic. some versions are even equipped with a reflective glass surface that provides a futuristic look yet still remain cozy.

besides the sneakers, nat-2 has collaborated on a line of milky home slippers with german 6th generation family owned ‘t1856 by thies’ footwear brand. the milk-felt resulted in the perfect design solution for the slippers not only because its soft and comfortable, but its also temperature regulating and anti-bacterial.

the milk-felt, done in collaboration with a german bio-engineer, is a sustainable material that proved to be ideal for footwear applications. the milk material is 100% natural and pleasant to the touch. due to the mix of wool and real milk fibers, the feel is soft and silky. its anti-bacterial feature, coupled with the regulating temperature effects make the shoes wearable in any environment.

the discarded milk is no longer fit for consumption, but still contains valuable ingredients making it an extremely useful raw material. it offers potential for technical purposes, and had never been used for footwear previous to nat-2’s endeavours.

the sneakers are priced at 299 euro and the slippers at 120 euro. the milk shoes are available at coilex.com (first run sold out) and are now available for pre-order by fine international retailers.