All plants,
no plastic
All plants, no plastic sneakers made to return to the earth and regenerate into something new.
A little dirt don’t hurt!
Meet Dee, our resident lil green dirtbag who goes buckwild for all things regenerative.
He talks life, earth and being green with a crew of unforgettable change makers.
Meet Dee, our resident lil green dirtbag who goes buckwild for all things regenerative.
He talks life, earth and being green with a crew of unforgettable change makers.
Meet the newest member of the UNLESS family, Dee!
He’s a lil green dirtbag who goes buckwild for all things regenerative — like his favorite sneaker, The DEGENERATE. Keep it locked for his new show, Keep it Growing, where he’ll be choppin’ it up with the likes of @blackforager, @xiuhtezcatl, @kalanirobb, and @karlawelchstylist. Stay tuned… 🌱
Pushing the envelope on what hip-hop can look and sound like, Xiuhtezcatl’s music has as much meaning as it has radio appeal. X is breaking on to the scene not only as a musician but also as an activist, model, entrepreneur and cross-cultural icon. He uses art to challenge systems of injustice and re-envision the future. Dee and Xiuhtezcatl chat about growing a better tomorrow and making choices that are best for communities and climate on his episode of Keep It Growing.
IG: @xiuhtezcatlonInstagram
Coming Soon
Identified as one of the “Most Powerful” stylists by The New York Times and The Hollywood Fashion Reporter, Karla Welch is an undoubtable force in the fashion industry. She is also the CEO and Co-Founder of The Period Company, whose mission is to create a sustainable alternative to the status quo and change the conversation around periods. Karla stopped by Keep It Growing to chop it up with Dee and talk about making sustainable choices. Watch as Dee’s little fuzzy mind is blown by Karla’s easy tips for making a positive impact in your everyday life.
IG: @karlawelchstylist
Coming Soon
Foraging teacher, environmental science enthusiast and James Beard Award winner, Alexis Nikole Nelson has been foraging since childhood in Cincinnati, OH. Now based in Columbus, Alexis (aka @TheBlackForager) shares how to find edible plants and turn foraged foods into delicious vegan recipes, from pappaw bread to violet syrup. She brought her light-hearted humor and infectious enthusiasm to this episode of Keep It Growing. Dee and Alexis share foraging tips and all the best ways to literally Keep It Growing.
IG: @theblackforager
Coming Soon
Youngest of the Momentum Generation surfers (iykyk), Kalani helped to define the current performance surfing landscape. Today he’s free surfing and killing the soft top game with Catch Surf, while also making appearances in some of your favorite films like Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Blue Crush. Dee and Kalani share hot takes for keeping the waters clean and the surf high on this episode of Keep It Growing.
IG: @kalanirobb
It's good to be a degenerate
We designed the DEGENERATE by slamming a clean, stripped-down upper into a deep cup-sole, creating a modern silhouette with attitude and style. Inspired by the PNW, we brought together the utility of Outdoor with the simplicity of a Skate silhouette to create a statement sneaker that can handle whatever you throw at it.
Style
Stripped down upper deep cut soleComfort
Textile shell, breathable upper constructionDurability
Only breaks down when you're done with itTraction
Rugged outsoleREGENERATIVE materials
We’ve teamed up with NFW (Natural Fiber Welding) to employ a set of revolutionary plant powered materials. MIRUM®, a plant based leather. CLARUS®, a recycled cotton to create the upper of the shoe. We collaborated with NFW to engineer, design and produce new solutions for the bottom of the shoe including exclusive natural rubber compounds (TUNERA™ and PLIANT™) that are durable enough for outsoles and soft enough for cushioning foams.
Natural Rubber
TUNERA™ natural foam rubber heel cushioning & PLIANT™ natural rubber outsoleNatural Cotton
Cotton canvas lining. Cotton embroidered tongue logo. Cotton laces with embroidered lace tips. Linen side stitchPlant Leather
MIRUM® mudguard, tip and edgingPlant Fiber
CLARUS® upper: a welded recycled cotton with extra durabilityAnd...Coconuts
Coconut fiber inlay sole with linen cover
Pliant™
The most sustainable shoe sole ever made: natural, plastic-free, recyclable, and scalable
Tunera™
Bioneutral, plastic-free foam
Clarus®
High-performance plastic-free recycled cotton that outperforms virgin cotton and synthetics
Mirum®
The only plastic-free plant-based leather alternative in-marketFrom Plants To Plants
Every ounce of this shoe has been made with next-gen plant-powered technology to create products that follow the circularity of mother nature. Made from 100% natural inputs, put together using chemistry that allows the materials to break down into their natural elements, and return harmlessly to the earth.
Handmade in Italy
The DEGENERATE reaches back in time, to rediscover old-school shoe making techniques used in the pre-plastics era. To tap into these techniques, we went to the spiritual home of artisanal shoe making: Italy.
TakeBack Program
All of our products are built to last, but inevitably, footwear and apparel wears out. We take back your shoes at no additional charge, and send them back to our material supplier and partner Natural Fiber Welding. NFW will then grind the shoes up to create new soil products.
THE PLASTICS PROBLEM IS REAL
The vast majority of shoes are made with plastics and other petrochemicals breaking down into harmful micro-plastics that find their way into our rivers and oceans, our food and our bodies. What doesn’t end up in a landfill, is often incinerated, creating harmful emissions.
FAQs
Where does the name DEGENERATE come from?
The shoe has been made with 100% natural materials that can harmlessly decompose at the end of their useful life.
Who designed the DEGENERATE?
The Degenerate was designed by the UNLESS in house design team.
Can I run in the DEGENERATE? Is it built for performance?
This sneaker has not been designed with any specific sport or performance characteristics in mind. It is a “lifestyle” sneaker that is meant to be worn for everyday use.
Is the DEGENERATE lighter or heavier than my day to day sneaker?
The degenerate weighs roughly as much as any other traditional lifestyle sneaker.
How durable is the DEGENERATE?
This always depends on how and where the shoe is worn. It was designed to last as long as any other traditional lifestyle sneaker.
