The luxury fashion giant is launching a line of men and women’s shoes that are entirely biodegradable. They will be part of Gucci’s Fall 2012 lineup and are set to hit stores by the end of June. There are two styles, both designed by Frida Giannini, the company’s creative director: a ballet flat for women and a sneaker for men.

The women’s design, the “Marola Green” jelly flat, features a cut out design with the brand’s logo and comes in three colors: blush, taupe and black. They are made of biodegradable plastic.

The “California Green” men’s sneaker is made up of a bio-rubber sole, vegetable-tanned calfskin, bioshoelaces and a tongue made of recycled polyester.

This footwear isn’t the first green move for Gucci, who recently launched a line of biodegradable “liquid wood” sunglasses. The designer eyewear combines wood from sustainably managed forests, lignin from paper-manufacturing processes and natural waxes. Unlike the usual petroleum-based plastics used, these materials will not stay in a landfill forever.

A year earlier, Gucci test-drove the “green” trend by putting out a line of bio-based sunglasses made form castor seeds. Clearly, these methods became more than a seasonal trend for the fashion industry and proved to be very popular.

Image courtesy of Creative Commons.

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