Style -- 5 days ago
There was a picture of Ben Affleck last year doing his thing in Los Angeles, which (as ever with the Dunkin' Doughnuts fan) swept across the Internet. There wasn’t, to be honest, much to report about the image. But what was evident was that the self-certified sneakerhead has a thing for Allbirds. On his feet were a pair of Tree Pipers, the hugely appealing, comfort-first shoes.
It’s no surprise, though, that Affleck, who has a sneaker collection to rival those of even the most diehard of TikTok sneaker investors, likes to sink his feet into a pair of Allbirds. Known for its simple and minimal shoes, New Zealand-born Allbirds has been clocking up famous fans since its inception in 2015. The shoes have won over very well-known men such as Barack Obama, Benedict Cumberbatch and Stanley Tucci. Why? Because they’re super comfortable and ultra-sustainable. And when the sneaker industry accounts for 1.4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions, anything that does a little bit better is attractive.
According to Allbirds, creating a better shoe is all in the materials. One of the shoes that left its mark when it launched was the Wool Runner. It left an indelible footprint on the footwear industry, thanks to its responsibly sourced Merino wool, tree fibre, and sugarcane construction.
Ten years later, it remains one of Allbirds' most enduring successes - it's the shoe favoured by the aforementioned Obama - and as the brand celebrates its 10th anniversary, Allbirds is delivering a fresh take on the classic Wool Runner with the all-new Wool Runner NZ. The design of the Wool Runner NZ maintains a minimalist essence, while it champions the use of merino wool, just as it did with the OG Runner.
What’s new is a dual-density insole, which is being coined the Allbirds Featherbed. This utilises a cushioned memory foam, paired with Allbirds' signature wool-blend topcloth to deliver uncompromising comfort. What’s more, the Wool Runner NZ (NZ for New Zealand, FYI) is underpinned by Allbirds’ signature SweetFoam midsole, now with an updated underfoot contour for a smoother ride.
“From day one to today, our mission remains the same: to make better things in a better way,” explains Tim Brown, co-founder, Allbirds. “That quest for better demands a spirit of continuous improvement, so the work of the Wool Runner is never finished. The Wool Runner NZ is a reminder that we will never stand still. We will move forward into the next ten years with as much determination to make things with purpose as we have through our first decade.”
The Wool Runner NZ is available, as part of the larger Wool Collection, in-store and online for £110.
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