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The sewing of Thaely Shoes. (PHOTO: VIDEO SCREENSHOTS) |
Thaely Shoes was initially developed by Ashay Bhave, an Indian student, to develop a sneaker that only uses components recycled from waste materials.
The startup makes shoes using fabric derived entirely from waste plastic bags. Bhave named the brand Thaely, from the Hindi word for plastic bags.
It took about two years to develop the fabric using plastic waste and then the prototype shoe. Bhave presented his product at Amity University Dubai's 2019 Eureka startup pitch competition and walked away with first place.
Since then, Thaely Shoes was able to receive funding and the production of the second prototype was put into action. The second prototype aimed to make a production ready sample, was developed in Dubai.
The plastic waste is recycled to make ThaelyTex fabric that looks and feels like leather. This ThaelyTex fabric is used to make the revolutionary product Thaely Y2k Pro sneakers. Each pair uses a total of 15 plastic bags and 22 plastic bottles. The production process does not need any additional chemicals nor does it release any toxic chemicals as a by-product.
The outer layer is constructed from Thaely's upcycled plastic material and the inside is constructed from Eco polyester, a breathable material which is created from recycled plastic bottles. The soles are made from ethically sourced natural rubber and the glue used is free of any animal products. All components including the glue are 100 percent vegan.