Rather than thorny, cactus becomes comfy on the feet thanks to Desserto developed by Adriano Di Marti, founded by Mexicans Adrián López Velarde and Marte Cázarez.
Made from nopal cactus, the vegan alternative is comparable to animal or synthetic leather in terms of aesthetics and performance while being highly durable and resistant to UV rays.
Onitsuka Tiger and Adriano Di Marti took the bio-material to the next level for the Mexico 66 Cactful collection.
The sneaker's upper is made with more than 20% cactus-derived material, whose production meets strict standards set by the Japanese brand. The manufacturing, compared to genuine leather, reduces CO2 emissions by approximately 80%. Difficult to express in real leather, pastel colours can be achieved with this lightweight and softer eco-friendly material. The midsole has been designed to take advantage of the lightness to provide an even more comfortable fit. Other parts such as sockliner and shoelaces are made of recycled materials to further fulfil sustainability goals.
The Mexico 66 collection was named to mark how in 1966 the Onitsuka Tiger stripes first appeared on Limber-Up sport shoes, which were worn by Japanese athletes competing at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City.
Since then, the Mexico 66 has become an iconic model. While keeping the design elements, the new Mexico 66 Cactful sneakers appeal in white, green, yellow, purple or blue.
