Made with 100% natural materials and zero plastic.
Saucony has always been a fan-favorite in the world of performance footwear, carving out its own niche in culture by continually pushing the boundaries of novel performance shoes with each new release. The brand sits at the intersection of bold style and thoughtful design practices, and few silhouettes embody that more than the athletic Jazz line. Celebrating Saucony Jazz’s 40 year anniversary of pushing the needle forward, the Jazz Original is a crowd pleaser for both runners and sneaker fans alike, consistently delivering a time-tested product for both style and comfort. Now, Saucony is releasing the new Jazz Court RFG edition, along in a white and beige colorway. And it could be argued that this sneaker, for many reasons, is the most important shoe in Saucony’s storied history, as it delivers on the brand’s promise to innovate in the name of sustainability while still maintaining its uniquely sleek and cool look.
It’s easy to talk about moving towards sustainability and ethical practices, but meaningfully attacking both is a difficult feat. Saucony is at the forefront of taking real steps towards an eco-friendly future with this release. The all-new Jazz Court RFG is made with 100% natural materials and utilizes zero plastic in manufacturing. The sneaker is also made using only seven renewable resources, including cotton, jute, wool, rubber, wood, gardenia and beet. The shoe features a gum rubber outsole, a hallmark of the classic court shoes, crafted by sourcing 100% Lactae Hevea, a material made from milk that is retrieved from the rubber plant. Daily use and exposure to natural environments eventually cause the shoes’ appearance to evolve gradually over time, becoming more and more unique to its wearer.
Saucony’s mission extends into details like dyes and packaging too. Beyond the renewable plant-based materials used to create the Jazz Court RFG, the brand utilizes undyed wool in addition to incorporating special gardenia flowers, which are used to create the navy dye for the silhouette’s rich navy collar lining, and beet juice to stamp sizing information onto insole labels. Each step of the process was adapted to reduce energy and avoid chemical use, for example, a baking trick is used to replace paint with a mixture of flour and water that marks stitching patterns. Once the stitching is complete, the water evaporates and the dried flour comes off to reveal the finished product. A true sidewall stitch is employed as well, bringing the upper to the outsole without using any synthetic adhesives. Rounding out the 360-degrees of sustainable practices, the shoes are housed in a 100% recycled cardboard and an ink-free shippable box, with the label also being made of kraft paper that contains soy-based ink.
The result is an eco-friendly, innovative and aesthetically adaptive shoe that becomes one with the owner over time. The all-new Jazz Court RFG is available now on the brand’s website for $130 USD.
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