My jelly shoes from 1996 are likely still sitting in landfill…
My first pair of jelly sandals will forever hold a place in my heart. They were transparent pink with glitter, and I believe I wore them until the sides snapped. It was the mid-to-late 90s, and we were in our Spice Girls era. Despite being only ten years old, a friend of mine had clear glitter jellies with a high heel (very Baby Spice). These shoes marked the first time I felt true wardrobe envy, but I still had nothing but love for my own special pair.
Fast forward almost 30 years and jelly shoes are back. Their transcendence into the must-have shoe of summer 2024 can undoubtedly be attributed to The Row’s cage version, the Mara Flat, which has sold out despite its USD$890 price tag.
Anyone sad to miss out on these coveted shoes need only to search them on TikTok to discover many of those who spent a good chunk of their monthly paycheck on a pair of Maras have had the PVC crack and break after only a few wears. With the risk of breakage high, it makes more sense to invest in a dupe like Jeffrey Campbell’s Jellz Slip-Ons, which come in at $88, or Ancient Greek Sandals’ Iro sandal, at $199.
But either way, once your PVC shoes inevitably kick the bucket, they’re going to end up in landfill aren’t they?
PVC, is the most common material used in the manufacture of these shoes due to its flexibility and durability (though I’m not sure how disgruntled Mara flat owners would feel about that claim?), and its production is detrimental to the environment and human health. The use of chlorine in production can release harmful dioxins during both manufacture and disposal, which can end up accumulating in the food chain. Phthalates, known to cause endocrine disruption, are often added to PVC to make it more flexible.
WIth PVC being non-biodegradable, discarded jelly shoes can persist in the environment for hundreds of years, contributing to plastic pollution in landfills or oceans. When recycled, PVC does have the ability to be melted down and reused, however the recycling process is more complex than other plastics due to its chlorine content and other additives used in its production. In other words, you can’t just throw your broken jellies into the curbside recycle bin.
Melissa, a brand with an entire operation built around PVC footwear, promises to be able to recycle its shoes when they’re returned to their specialist partners. The brand’s sustainability policy also states that since 2018, Melissa footwear has been made using 100 percent renewable energy and on average, 30 percent of each shoe is made from recycled factory waste.
It turns out there are very few eco-friendly options for jelly shoes on the market. In New Zealand, Garden Objects stocks Plasticana hemp jelly sandals and clogs, which are made in France from hemp plastic. These are the only sustainable forms of this type of footwear available locally that my research could uncover.
When it comes to wearability and practicality, there are certainly benefits to plastic footwear. They’re water-resistant, making them ideal for summer or any water-based activities, as they don’t lose shape or become damaged from water. Jellies are easy to clean and lightweight, making them great for travel. These factors also make them a popular choice for kids. My girls shared a green pair, which we then passed down to another little friend once they had outgrown them, and I hope they continue to be handed on for years to come.
With jelly shoes currently trending during a hot Northern Hemisphere summer, there’s no doubt this will trickle down to us as the warmer weather approaches. If you want to jump on this trend, I invite you to consider a sustainable option like the Plasticana jellies. If that’s not your style and you prefer the caged design of The Row or Jeffrey Campbell, make the most conscious choice by considering whether it’s a shoe you’re really going to get a lot of wear out of before you hit ‘buy now’.