The conservation group and recycling collective Ocean Sole encourages communities to clean up beaches and make flip flops into a living, by recycling them into colorful animal sculptures, like the ones pictured above.
The conservation group and recycling collective Ocean Sole encourages communities to clean up beaches and make flip flops into a living, by recycling them into colorful animal sculptures, like the ones pictured above.
Courtesy Ocean Sole
"Our founder Julie Church back in the 90s discovered an entire beach ... was just covered in flip flops," Erin Smith, of Ocean Sole, says. "What she saw were not just dead fish that had been trying to eat in their natural habitat, but turtles unable to come up on to land and actually hatch." <br />The sculptures depict animals to draw attention to the human effect on their habitat.
"Our founder Julie Church back in the 90s discovered an entire beach ... was just covered in flip flops," Erin Smith, of Ocean Sole, says. "What she saw were not just dead fish that had been trying to eat in their natural habitat, but turtles unable to come up on to land and actually hatch."
The sculptures depict animals to draw attention to the human effect on their habitat.
Courtesy Ocean Sole
Since then, the collective's flip flop sculptures have ranged from handheld creations to an 18-foot life-sized giraffe.
Since then, the collective's flip flop sculptures have ranged from handheld creations to an 18-foot life-sized giraffe.
Courtesy Ocean Sole
Ocean Sole has trained a team of about 40 artisans in a Nairobi workshop to craft sculptures from these unloved objects into a source of income.
Ocean Sole has trained a team of about 40 artisans in a Nairobi workshop to craft sculptures from these unloved objects into a source of income.
Courtesy Ocean Sole
"I think it's time for us to start looking for an alternative shoe, or an alternative material, to fit that kind of fashion need," argues Smith. "Our products need to evolve."
"I think it's time for us to start looking for an alternative shoe, or an alternative material, to fit that kind of fashion need," argues Smith. "Our products need to evolve."
Courtesy Ocean Sole
The sculptures are a colorful reminder of the damage we do to our planet. Smith says Ocean Sole aims to produce a million products a year.
The sculptures are a colorful reminder of the damage we do to our planet. Smith says Ocean Sole aims to produce a million products a year.
Courtesy Ocean Sole