SNEAKER BRAND YATAY IS THE LATEST SUSTAINABLE LABEL TO PUT ON YOUR RADAR

NEWS | November 9, 2020

There's no denying the rise of ethical fashion and brands such as Veja and Rombaut have led the way by designing eco-friendly trainers. The new kid on the block is Italian brand Yatay with its minimalist design and natural materials.

The very promising sneaker scene is currently bursting with eco game changers such as Italian brand Yatay, created in 2018 by young Umberto de Marco from Milan. He completed a degree in economics and finance from Bocconi University and a stint working for American label Moncler. He had a very distinct vision for Yatay: creating raw sneakers with the highest aesthetic and environmental standards. The launch of these sober and elegant designs came at the perfect timing, coinciding with the latest comeback of minimalist fashion.

The Italian brand collaborates with selected cobblers from Ancona, a town located in the Marches region, to craft its products. Combining Italian fashion's age-old expertise with the latest cutting-edge technologies, Yatay sneakers feature quality materials while maintaining a low carbon footprint. After two years of research and development, the Neven model was created with 75% eco-friendly leather, made from materials sourced in Italy to lower CO2 emissions linked to transportation.

Yatay has adopted a completely transparent communication strategy, sharing its hopes and challenges to create sneakers that are as ethical as possible. The Italian brand has also joined forces with One Tree Planted to lower its environmental impact by planting a tree for each pair of shoes it sells. And the brand's name is a tribute to one of the largest palm trees in South America: Butia yatay.