The Boss label has unveiled what it’s called The Change sneakers with the Hugo Boss-owned brand saying they’re the first of their kind.

They’re made with HeiQ AeoniQ, a trademarked “revolutionary cellulosic filament yarn engineered to substitute oil-based filament yarns, such as polyester and polyamide”. 

The fibre is the result of a strategic partnership between HeiQ and Hugo Boss with The Lycra Company also involved as the fibre’s exclusive global distributor. MAS Holdings became the newest investor of the project in 2023. 

The extension of the use of the innovative fibre to the footwear category follows the launch of Boss’s first limited-edition pieces last year, including a polo shirt, an overcoat and a bomber jacket. 

It’s part of the label’s ambition to eliminate its use of polyamide and polyester by the year 2030 as the use of the fibre helps to “reduce the use of fossil fuels and their overall negative environmental impact, which includes the proliferation of microplastics”.

Boss said that the sneakers offer “unmatched durability, moisture management, and comfort” and come with Boss’s TTNM EVO outsole, “delivering stable support and cushioning”. There’s a knitted upper made of 85% HeiQ AeoniQ, while the laces and labels are made entirely from cellulosic yarn made of the fibre.

Boss said it’s “a big initial step” for it “as the brand takes a giant stride forward in its footwear range, and marks its intention to gradually increase the presence and share of HeiQ AeoniQ in its overall product range. This will evolve as research and development is carried out in other product categories”.

The shoes are priced at $250 and launched on the brand’s webstore this week.