Womenswear designer Rosie Assoulin knows the joy of city summers, with beach hangs and spontaneous ice cream runs. It’s this nostalgia for her childhood in Brooklyn that she sought to capture in her latest limited edition collaboration with Allbirds. Another release in a long line of sustainable footwear choices, the unisex Sugar Sliders is a testament to the brand’s innovation within the material space. Coming in bright palettes of cherry, pistachio, and an app exclusive colorway almond, the slides make a colorful pairing to any fit. Finished off with unique patterning, the release is both playful and modern.

In a recent interview with Fashion United, Rosie Assoulin shared, “We’ve been working on bringing this partnership to life for nearly two years now – it started in the early days of the pandemic as a fun and meaningful project. During this time, I was watching documentaries with my kids and learned a lot about regenerative farming and carbon sequestration, and we were really curious about these practices, so it’s been intriguing to work on this project exploring the use of new and forward-thinking materials.”

The material she refers to is the sugarcane-based, carbon negative SweetFoam, used to craft the eco-conscious slides. With a shared appreciation for natural articles, the collaborators opted for this low-impact tech that is mindful of the environment. For example, self-sufficient sugarcane can use its biomass to power and fertilize future crops. When transformed into Sweetfoam, the material ensures comfort every step of the way. Moreover, Allbirds has made a commitment to rigorous standards that uphold ethical and environmental values. This brand adherence was jointly developed by Proforest and Braskem, while farms are audited by a third party.

Taking their commitment a step further, Allbirds and Assoulin have also shared that proceeds will be going to two organizations, the Rodale Institute and the Ron Finley Project. The institute aims to educate farms on regenerative practices, while the project hopes to transform food deserts into food sanctuaries. In summary, the Sugar Sliders both look good and do good for the planet.

The Sugar Sliders launched June 15 and are now available online at www.allbirds.com.