Co-ripple: ADAR
ADAR: AN INPSIRING NEW START-UP COMMITTED TO SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS
Supporting creatives is an integral part of Lady Ripple and especially those who have an overall regard for the environment and for sustainable practices. Many young designers today are forming start-ups with sustainability at their core. Florence based ADAR is one such brand that is finding a new way to create vegan sneakers, which is the shoe of choice for today’s millennials. Founded in March of 2020 by Luca Manuzzi and Willy Anne Wijnja, ADAR is an inspiring example of how circular prosperity is speaking to these young designers.
LR: Tell us about the ethos behind ADAR?
ADAR: Our company name ADAR is an acronym for About Designing Abstract Realities. We live in a completely new era when it comes to design. Fashion is no longer only about how something looks, but it must incorporate sustainable materials and be ethically produced. We sought the best options that wouldn’t hurt our Mother Earth. Since we began our start-up, new materials are being invented hence the abstract part. We don’t know what will come and so the future is still abstract.
LR: Why did you choose sneakers as a first design?
ADAR: Our goal is to wear vegan fashion designs whenever we can. When it came to footwear, we didn’t find any interesting designs and sustainable options that were made of great quality. Although, vegan sneakers are becoming increasingly popular, unfortunately, many are made of 100% synthetic-made materials that are not good for the environment and are poorly constructed. So we decided to create a sneaker ourselves that was plant-based, recycled and made with high quality Italian craftsmanship.
LR: Can you speak more about how your sneakers embody sustainability?
ADAR: ADAR was founded at the start of the pandemic. This spurred on our ideas regarding which sustainable materials would inspire us. We came upon samples of vegan leather made from grapes, apples, pineapple, mushrooms and tested their quality and durability. Our instant favourite was apple leather which is produced locally in Florence. ADAR sneakers are completely vegan meaning there are no animals harmed or involved. Part of the shoe is plant based and the other parts are comprised of recycled synthetics.
Sustainability to us means more than just using sustainably sourced materials. We also think it’s very important to keep everything local to avoid a high co2 emissions. The factory we are working with is a small family business in Padova, famous for its high-quality production of shoes. They treat their employees ethically under good and safe working conditions.
Quality is another key that makes a product sustainable. Although our shoe is not biodegradable, it is a shoe that will last. The neutral colours and the high-quality material and craftsmanship all contribute to its durability.
LR: How is sustainability being embraced by younger generations?
ADAR: For the Millennials and Generation Z, sustainability has become one of the most important factors in buying fashion or other products. As sustainability gains more momentum, we collectively can study new ways of doing things better. The future is still abstract, but as more brands and people consciously subscribe to sustainable options, more solutions can be made possible. We don’t see our competitors as competitors, but as companions. Thanks to them there are new materials available and new techniques being created.
ADAR is trying to inspire others to wear sustainable fashion, to re-use, to re-purpose and to make conscious purchases of long-lasting pieces. We do this by sharing our views on social media. We are creating a sustainable lifestyle Facebook group where people can join and we discuss important topics.
LR: Our Lady Ripple concept of circular prosperity has inspired you. Can you speak more about that?
ADAR: Circular prosperity for us is an important concept. From our starting point, our apple leather is made from waste from the apple juice industry. Our fabrics and laces are made from recycled materials and so is the rubber outsole. Our packaging is all made from recycled paper and our fabric tote bags are made from rescued dead stock fabrics. We support local communities and small family businesses who produce the sneakers which is good for these communities. When someone purchases our sneakers, they are endorsing all we do and our forward ripple to charity. With each purchase, 3 euros is donated to Bee the Ripple Charity which goes directly back to helping the environment and to save the bees. It is a full circle.
In the future, we would like to enhance the circular prosperity model even more so with everything we do, and encourage our partners to adopt the same concept.
LR: Out of all the charities from which to donate, why choose Bee the Ripple?
ADAR: Lady Ripple is an organization that is very close to our heart. ADAR is Florence-based in a city which we all love. Lady Ripple is supporting the work of local artisans and so do we, which aligns us.
Another major point to note is as ADAR is using plant-based materials, no bees means no apple trees which means no apple leather. We have a fundamental gratitude for these little creatures. As Bee the Ripple is making direct impact upon the Florentine population with its urban bee-hive initiatives and promoting better biodiversity, we find it a necessary cause.
LR: How can we purchase your sneakers?
ADAR: We will launch with a Kickstarter campaign in the end of spring. This is a crowdfunding platform which will help us start up our first production. In return for a donation we will make a pair of sneakers for the customer. On adarbrand.com you can now reserve your spot in order to get the best deal.