Ask Marie Claire editors (and readers) what they want in a new pair of shoes, and the answer will likely fall within the Venn diagram of chic, comfortable, and environmentally sustainable. And while many fashions are stylishly on-trend, few shoes are comfortable and earth-friendly. But Vionic, a footwear brand already beloved for its super cute and wildly comfortable shoes, is also committed to helping the environment. As part of its mission, Vionic has announced a partnership with PROTEUS™, the world's most advanced underwater research facility and habitat, to develop sustainable sneakers that make your feet and the planet more comfortable.

The Vionic + PROTEUS™ Partnership collection sneaker line features hand-painted coral prints that celebrate the waters off Curaçao, where the PROTEUS™ team, led by renowned marine conservationist Fabien Cousteau, is conducting research. But the partnership doesn't stop there: each shoe is made with Repreve® Our Ocean™ textile, which is made from plastic bottles recycled from the ocean; Repreve has been collected within 30 miles of beaches and waterways in developing countries.330 Repreve has recycled more than 33 billion (with a "B") ocean plastic bottles collected within 30 miles of beaches and waterways in developing countries. Vionic is leveraging the expertise of the PROTEUS™ team to create an eco-conscious product that pays more than just lip service, while at the same time enhancing the important marine research conducted by Proteus. [3.6 plastic bottles were collected from coastal waterways and upcycled into these cute sneakers:

In addition, the beach-inspired Malibu slip-on style not only provides support and comfort for the entire foot, as do all Vionic shoes, 4.9 plastic bottles:

And perhaps our favorite, the summery Laguna espadrille, uses 5.2 plastic bottles:

So far, these three styles have already collected over 70,000 bottles from coastal waterways and landfills plastic bottles have been collected and transformed into beautiful and comfortable shoes. As part of Vionic's Ocean Wellness Initiative, Vionic is also contributing $500,000 over the next three years to PROTEUS™ to help advance research and advances in environmental protection, human health, and technological innovation. In 2021 alone, Vionic is donating $100,000 to this important cause, while at the same time encouraging longtime Vionic style fans to learn about and contribute to the research that drives PROTEUS™'s mission. It is all part of Vionic's transformation of his passion for the sea into sustainable action.

The partnership between Vionic and Proteus is not limited to footwear, but also focuses on outreach activities such as beach cleanups and consumer awareness campaigns on ocean protection. As a result, Vionic is reducing the fashion industry's carbon footprint and setting an example for others to follow in their footsteps (pun intended).

Vionic recognizes that even seemingly small choices, like the next pair of must-have sneakers, can have an impact on the environment. To make it a positive one and support pioneering ocean research in the process, check out Vionic's partnership with PROTEUS™ and turn your choices into sustainable actions.

To check out the collection of eco-friendly sneakers and learn more about the Vionic and PROTEUS™ partnership, visit VionicShoes.com. Also, follow the brand on Facebook and Instagram @vionicshoes.