Everlane Just Launched a Lineup of Streamlined, Sustainable Sneakers

At this point, trying to convince any savvy shopper (that's you!) that the minimal tennis sneaker is in any way a novel proposition would be a fool's errand. You've seen the shape before, and you've probably seen it a lot. There are multi-hundred-dollar designer iterations, there are shamelessly fast-fashion versions, and there's everything in between, too. Nothing new there. But it turns out there is a way to breathe life into the classic style, and the folks at Everlane have discovered it (go figure). The trick isn't trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to design; instead, it's all about the process and the parts.

The new ReLeather Tennis Shoe keeps the silhouette you know and love, but even though it looks and feels and behaves like good ol' leather, the material on the uppers is actually a combination of recycled fabrics like polyester and post-industrial leather scraps that, if they didn't wind up in your new kicks, would be headed for the landfill. If you want to get down to numbers: Because the process skips the dyeing and tanning usually needed for leather shoes, the material uses about 80 percent less water than virgin leather. Every product has an impact, but the extent of it here is greatly diminished, and that's something you can feel good about. And if the mid-century tennis-shoe vibe isn't quite your cup of tee, Everlane also offers a ReLeather Court Sneaker that's got more of an '80s vibe, with a chunkier shape and lots of paneling.

Either way, you're going a little easier on the planet while picking up a pair of sneakers that'll go with just about everything in your closet. Win win.