Allbirds, Modern Meadow partner for eco-friendly shoes

The basics:

• Allbirds debuts Terralux collection using Modern Meadow‘s Innovera
• Plant-based, animal-free leather alternative enters footwear market
• Modern Meadow operates from ON3 campus in Nutley
• Allbirds shifts focus to online sales, closing most U.S. stores

Footwear brand Allbirds is teaming up with Nutley-based bio-design firm Modern Meadow to launch an industry first.

Crafted using Modern Meadow’s next-gen leather alternative, the Terralux collection is engineered to look, feel, wear and age like traditional leather.

A plant-based protein substrate, biopolymers and recycled rubber comprise Innovera. The material contains more than 80% renewable carbon content and is completely animal-free, according to Modern Meadow. Innovera is then finished in conventional leather tanneries using the same treatment and dyeing processes as animal leather.

Other companies have worked with Modern Meadow to use its flagship Innovera. Applications include automotive interiors, premium wallets, tech accessories and luxury handbags. However, Allbirds is the first to bring the innovative material to footwear, according to a press release announcing the collaboration.

Now available on allbirds.com, the three-piece collection includes two of the brand’s best-selling styles for men and women: the Cruiser Terralux ($135) and Varsity Terralux ($145). It also features a men’s runner for $135.

Stepping into footwear

Modern Meadow Chief Executive Officer David Williamson said his team is thrilled to team up with Allbirds to bring Innovera into footwear.

“With our shared commitment to create high-performance, beautifully aesthetic products that minimize our impact on the planet, we both continue to meet the growing consumer demand for responsibility and transparency without compromising,” he said.

Williamson also said, “Our material’s entry into footwear reinforces its ability to adapt across premium categories without compromising on performance, quality or impact.”

Founded in 2011, Modern Meadow seeks to create high-performance products with a lower environmental impact. It serves the automotive, furniture and fashion accessories spaces. The firm uses biofabrication and cellular agriculture to create sustainable, animal-free materials.

Modern Meadow joined the ON3 campus nine years ago, after outgrowing its home in Brooklyn. By offering Grow NJ tax credits worth about $32 million, the New Jersey Economic Development Authority helped the company bring a laboratory and pilot manufacturing site to the Nutley property.

Other Modern Meadow partnerships have included handbags with German luxury label Melina Bucher and bucket seats for Mercedes-Benz AG cars.

Allbirds Vice President of Design Jason Israel described the Terralux collection as “an important evolution” for the San Francisco-headquartered company.

“Innovera allowed us to achieve the look and feel of leather in a bio-based material, opening the door to more elevated, versatile footwear — while still delivering on our comfort and sustainability promise,” he said.

Murphy’s a fan

Launched 11 years ago as a direct-to-consumer e-commerce venture, Allbirds is best known for its machine-washable sustainable footwear made from materials like Merino wool, tree fiber and sugar cane.

The brand has garnered a big following among celebrities, including Ben Affleck, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Hudson, Jennifer Garner and Lady Gaga. Former New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is a fan of Allbirds, too.

Allbirds went on to establish a brick-and-mortar footprint of more than 60 stores. However, after two years of closing underperforming stores, the company is calling it quits on most of its physical locations.

As part of a strategic shift to focus on online sales, wholesale partnerships and international distribution, Allbirds recently said it will close all full-price stores in the U.S. by the end of February. Going forward, it will maintain two outlet locations in the U.S. and two full full-price stores in London.