Lily Cole launches a Veja limited-edition footwear collection exclusively for Sky Rainforest Rescue
Actress and environmentalist Lily Cole today launches her first footwear collection with the French ecological shoe and accessory brand Veja, as part of her work as an ambassador for Sky Rainforest Rescue - a partnership between Sky and WWF to help protect one billion trees in Brazil. Sky and WWF work with the local government in Acre, the north-western state of the country to tackle deforestation by enabling local people to make a fair living from sustainable rainforest products such as rubber.
Following the success of her sell-out jewellery collection made from Amazonian wild rubber in 2013 for Sky Rainforest Rescue; Lily has collaborated with Veja who use wild Amazonian rubber on the soles of their trainers to raise awareness of the versatility of the naturally occurring material. The Amazon Rainforest is the only place on earth where rubber trees grow in the wild and their sap (known as liquid latex) can be extracted by rubber tappers without damaging or cutting down the trees. Veja works with local rubber tapping communities including those in the Sky Rainforest Rescue project area in Acre. They buy the rubber at a price that guarantees a better income for the rubber tappers and enables them to keep the trees standing.
Lily has created a range of Veja canvas trainers known as the ‘Taua’ design in three of the hottest colour palettes for SS14. The design celebrates the smaller flora and fauna of the rainforest – from the delicate wild mushroom to the enchanting hummingbird. Lily’s inspiration for the design came from her trip to the Amazon in 2012 where she saw the breath-taking beauty of butterflies, birds, dragonflies and plants that depend on the eco-system of the Amazon rainforest to survive.
Lily commented: “The survival of the rainforest depends on managing its resources. With all eyes on Brazil this summer, my collection not only taps into the SS14 flat shoe trend, but also shows how wild Amazonian rubber can be used to make desirable products for people’s everyday lives. During my trip to the Amazon I was spent time with rubber tappers and got to try out this skilled technique. I saw first-hand the crucial part that Sky Rainforest Rescue plays in creating demand for wild Amazonian rubber for companies like Veja, and making the rainforest worth more standing. ”
The limited edition collection will be available to buy online and through Offspring concessions stores in Topshop on Oxford Street and Selfridges in London and Manchester. Prices start at £55 for the low top trainer known as Veja Taua Amazon in Oxford Grey and go up to £65 for the mid top trainer Veja Taua Mid Amazon in Clementine and Nautico. For every pair of trainers sold Sky will donate £10 to Sky Rainforest Rescue and WWF-UK’s work to help support the livelihood of rubber tappers and equip them to tap six more trees, helping to protect rainforest.
Lily Cole’s Veja footwear collection for Sky Rainforest Rescue is on sale w/c 2nd June 2014 June. For more information about the collaboration please visit www.skyrainforest.com
