When it comes to sneakers, we all love a burst of color. It’s often the first thing that catches our eye when searching for that perfect pair of kicks. That being said, we have some bad news: sorry to break it to you, but colorful sneakers aren’t always the most sustainable option.

In the footwear industry, water usage during the textile dyeing and finishing processes is shockingly high. Asim K. Roy Choudhury, a retired professor and textile expert, reveals that it can take up to 200 tonnes of water for every tonne of textiles produced.

Recognizing the need for more eco-friendly alternatives, Sean Wotherspoon, a true connoisseur of classic sportswear and vintage memorabilia, has just unveiled the second version of his collaboration with adidas—the Orketro sneakers. Since their partnership began in 2020, they’ve been introducing some of the most environmentally-friendly styles to the adidas range.

From the revamped Superstar to the vibrant patchwork ZX 8000s and the adidas SUPERTURF ADVENTURE SEAN WOTHERSPOON sneakers in various colors, Wotherspoon has found great resonance with the ’90s-inspired silhouette, which offers endless design possibilities.

Beyond their visual appeal, the adidas x Sean Wotherspoon footwear and apparel have garnered immense popularity for their commitment to sustainability. This collaboration aims to create sneakers that make a positive impact on the environment. They achieve this by utilizing repurposed waste from manufacturing processes and incorporating plant-based materials.

This time around, the latest Orketro sneaker takes a different path. Instead of the vibrant, multicolored hues from last year, they’ve embraced a more minimalist style with flawless construction. The Orketro silhouette now comes in a quiet “Off White” palette, featuring a fully uncolored canvas and unfinished construction.

This intentional choice sheds light on the environmental impact of textile dyeing, which requires an enormous amount of water. By skipping this step in the manufacturing process, these sneakers become a lot more eco-friendly.

If you take a closer look, you’ll notice the sculpted midsole with Adiprene+, a technology commonly found in adidas’ performance basketball models. This provides exceptional bounce and responsiveness with every step.

Staying true to their roots, these lightweight retro-futuristic runners retain the distinctive paneling seen in previous releases. The heavy canvas uppers are adorned with distressed flame details that start from the toes and sweep toward the heels.

The iconic three-stripes logo boldly runs across the front of the shoe, while Wotherspoon’s initials, SW, are embroidered in green across the toe box. A playful touch comes in the form of his signature peace sign logo on the tongue tags and cork insoles. The raw and undyed nature of these sneakers offers wearers the freedom to customize and make them their own.

Sustainability remains a central focus in this collaboration. Wotherspoon and adidas are dedicated to using natural and renewable materials to reduce reliance on finite resources and combat the issue of plastic waste. Notable features of the Orketro sneakers include a lace closure, textile upper, textile lining and a minimum of 50% natural and renewable materials.

The new adidas x Sean Wotherspoon Orketro sneakers in “Off White” are now available exclusively through the adidas CONFIRMED app, priced at $160 USD. Take a look at the silhouette in the gallery above and for more sustainable footwear news, here’s a roundup of the new planet-friendly footwear you might have missed.