Leonardo DiCaprio-backed vegan shoe brand LØCI scoops major award
Cruelty-free footwear company LØCI has scooped a major fashion award.
After being thrown under the spotlight, the brand won ‘Best Vegan Shoe’ at the 2022 PETA fashion awards.
Also at the awards, retailer H&M was shunned as ‘Villain of the Year’ for u-turning on its cashmere ban.
“The vegan fashion revolution is truly here – from fur-free catwalks to luxury fashion made with plants,” says PETA Vice President of UK Programmes & Operations Elisa Allen. “With our Fashion Awards, PETA is celebrating the progressive brands dedicated to making a change for animals and the planet.”
The vegan shoe brand LØCI recently raised an impressive £4m for its ‘next stage of growth’ – with help from the acclaimed actor Leonardo DiCaprio. Other investors included Adidas’ ex VP of global brand strategy and sustainability, James Carnes.
Speaking to his 19.6 million Twitter followers, DiCaprio said: “I am proud to be an investor in LØCI, a brand dedicated to minimising its environmental impact, and centred around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear.”
The star, who frequently speaks out about the environmental damage caused by animal agriculture, has also invested vegan food chain Neat Burger, as well as cultivated meat and seafood brands such as Mosa Meat and Aleph Farms.
Founded in 2021, Løci is the brainchild of Emmanuel and Frank Eribo, Philippe Homsy, and Mark Quaradeghini. The four entrepreneurs have previously collaborated to bring another vegan shoe brand, Butterfly Twists, to market.
Each pair of Løci sneakers repurposes the equivalent of 20 plastic bottles. These would otherwise end up in the ocean or degrading for decades in landfill sites. In addition, cork, bamboo, recycled nylon and brass, and natural rubber replace conventionally animal-based or unsustainable materials. All are sourced from within Europe.
