Fans Think Prince William Wore Sustainable White Sneakers in South Africa As an Ode to Wife Kate Middleton
Amina Ayoud
Assistant Digital Editor
Prince William walked the green carpet at the Earthshot Prize Awards held in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday in a certified eco-friendly ensemble.
The royal laced up a pair of Purified Shoes’ preppy Abaca style in the color ecru with a gum sole. The Abaca is princed at $120, and it’s described on the company’s website as the first zero-plastic shoe crafted with a Bananatex® upper and a soft tread PLIANT™ sole.
The sneaker is made out of water-resistant canvas while the soft tread latex sole offers ultimate comfort, and the textured grooves are designed to move naturally with the wearer’s foot. Purified Shoes was one of many sustainable ventures given the Earthshot Prize.
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Organic cotton lining and laces give way to sustainably sourced natural rubber soles made of a patented plant-based curative that enables high performance without synthetics. Purified Shoes’ Abaca sneaker is a style that his wife Kate Middleton typically favors.
William’s appearance on the carpet has fans believing that he took inspiration from his wife’s eco-friendly style. One fan took to X to share a photo of the Princess of Wales in a similar ensemble, writing: “Tell us you’re missing your wife without telling us you’re missing your wife.” The princess has been a long time supporter of eco-conscious shoe brands like Veja, and is known to lace them up for a myriad of formal and casual occasions.
For the event, William donned a crisp light blue button-up layered beneath a black and white checkered vintage blazer sourced from a vintage shop in London. Tailored black slacks rounded out his look. The ensemble showcased the Prince’s appreciation for eco-friendly habits.
The 2024 Earthshot Prize Awards was held in Cape Town, South Africa on Nov. 6. The occasion was hosted by Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Award winner Billy Porter and award-winning television presenter Bonang Matheba and featured some of the world’s biggest musicians, artists, athletes, and advocates including Heidi Klum, Nina Dobrev, Winnie Harlow and Robert Irwin, among others.
The awards celebrate the work of hand-picked fifteen finalists and announce the five winners for 2024. Each winner is awarded £1 million to tackle an eco-friendly solution to climate-related topics.
