As the calls for industry climate action and consumer behavior revolutions get louder and louder, this is a question many sneakerheads are struggling with. It's for exactly that reason that it's important to ask this question, on both a global-economic scale and on a more personal, private scale.

The short answer is that sneakers are not sustainable at all. However, the reasons why are intricate and complex. We try to do justice to the answer, with help from industry experts. 

This piece is part of "The Highsnobiety Better Earth Manual," a guide for style enthusiasts in the age of ecological crisis — a crisis caused in part by the fashion itself. Here, you’ll find a growing set of resources about conscious consumption and the pioneers who are making change in our industry.