Green Daily

Puma, known for its fashion-forward kicks and chic sports fashions, has teamed up with Atmos NYC to bring you...shoes that look like endangered species.

Well, kinda: each shoe is designed to loosely resemble (emphasis on "loosely") an endangered animal. The "Polar Pack" line features a faux-harp seal print accented with turquoise shoelaces, while the "Asia Pack" is set to drop this fall and will include the "crested iris" shoe, accented in - what else? - hot pink. Each shoe features the name and habitat of the animal it's supposed to resemble on the reverse tongue and the outsole in both English and Japanese.

There is a tiny bit of legitimacy to the project - for instance, the brands say they gleaned inspiration and ideas from National Geographic photog Mitsuaki Iwago - but the whole thing seems a little far-fetched and misplaced, especially when you consider that parts of the shoes are made from animal products. Um...doesn't that kind of defeat the purpose?

And before you ask, no, the proceeds don't go to any endangered species organizations. So, go ahead and buy a shoe with bright yellow feathers if you'd like...but do it 'cause you think it looks neat, not because you think you're at all helping endangered animals, okay?

via [Grist]