Sustainable for the environment, but not necessarily your wallet, for a mere $18,000 you can be the proud owner of these eco-friendly flip-flops.
The L.A.-based eco-conscious footwear company Chipkos and contemporary artist David Palmer have teamed up to create "the world's most expensive flip-flops," according to the organization.
The square-shaped Indian-inspired footwear strongly resembles Palmer's other swirl patterned artwork and has two eco-friendly gold emblems-one on each sandal. Palmer says, "Inspired by nature, and language, and the invisible connections between things, I create images that reflect my fascination with an increasingly complex world."
The initiative is part of the "Chipkos Stand for Square Feet Campaign" which says, “sandals have the power to protect more than just your feet.”
With the purchase, the company pledges to adopt 100,000 square feet of Costa Rican rainforest. The hefty price tag also comes with an introduction to Palmer, a stay at the LEED-certified Montage Hotel in Beverly Hills and a one-of-a-kind piece of Palmer's artwork. As TreeHugger writes, "It's basically the really swanky way to 'save the rainforest' without leaving the lap of luxury."
While you may not want to sport them on vacation, you can certainly mount them on your wall in the included reclaimed wood and glass case.
These flip-flops are just one of many new attempts to combine luxury with eco-living. Glamor camping or "glamping" has recently received both praise and criticism, and some luxury hotels are now working to become more sustainable.
Don't have $18,000 to spare but still want to have fashionable, eco-friendly shoes? Check out Simple Shoes, MooShoes and Planet Shoes, and donate you old shoes to a local charity or Soles4Souls.
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the flip-flops have two eco-friendly gold emblems, not ethical gold, as was previously written.
The Flip Flops:
