Ticket to stride

ECO friendly fashion . . . First employees Leigh-Anne Weathers (left) and Nicola James try out their new trainers

FASHION-conscious footwear fans can do their bit for the environment by opting for trainers made from recycled bus seats and tyres.

Bus company First has signed up to the scheme which sees the patterned seats used for the uppers and tyres used for the soles of the trainers which are sold for £70.

The basketball shoes, which have been designed by London firm Above and Beyond and made in Portugal, are currently being road-tested by First staff and 150 pairs have been sold so far. The project came about after Transport Recycling in Partnership (TRiP) worked with First to find new ways of recycling.

Claire Johnson, commercial manager for First in Manchester said: “I hope to see our streets full of people wearing our bus seat covers on their feet in 2009.”

Robert Taylor-Read, projects director at TRiP, said: “Each pair is a limited edition relic of transport design heritage which is comfortable, stylish and robust.”

For more information visit www.aboveandbelowlondon.com