Vivobarefoot has introduced its latest innovation, the Gobi sneaker, crafted from 98% natural materials. This launch marks a significant step toward eliminating plastic from the brand’s vegan footwear line. The breakthrough came through a collaboration with HyphaLite, a company specializing in mushroom-based materials.

By combining mushrooms with certified natural latex, they developed a leather-like alternative that is both animal-free and plastic-free. Achieving this required extensive refinement as early prototypes lacked durability and absorbed moisture too easily.

The company acknowledges that while the Gobi is 98% natural, achieving full biodegradability is a complex process that involves more than just using natural materials. A major milestone was creating a fully natural outsole, typically one of the least eco-friendly parts of a shoe. In partnership with Natural Fiber Welding, Vivobarefoot developed a sole made entirely from natural rubber and plant-based materials, a process that took over a year of experimentation to ensure the right balance of durability and flexibility.

Charlotte Pumford, Director of Sustainability at Vivobarefoot, noted that creating a high-performance vegan shoe without synthetic components has been a longstanding challenge. “We’ve been searching for a vegan, plant-based material that can deliver the performance people expect from everyday shoes,” she told Forbes.