ON THE COVER

NICHOLAS KIRKWOOD aims to have the first luxury shoe brand that is 100% natural and compostable — and his goal starts with the spring ’21 collection, which includes Nature L compostable leather, designed to degrade 75% in the first 90 days of composting and also takes dye more easily, allowing for less to be used. Elsewhere, fabric uppers are made of eco-friendly hemp, and traditional thermoplastic counter stiffeners are replaced with organic alternatives made of cotton and natural latex, harvested sustainably from regenerative rubber trees. Meanwhile, compostable cellulose fiber insoles reduce the need for a metal shank in high heel styles. The pictured Joaquim mule has a 100% wood heel that is finished in Carnauba wax, from the Brazil-native Carnauba palm tree, and a suede upper that is vegetable tanned and in its natural color.