Kanye West Launches Shoes Made With Algae Bioplastics

The “Jesus Is King” rapper revealed the Yeezy Foam Runners last week at the Fast Company Innovation Festival. Ye was joined by Yeezy head designer Steven Smith to introduce the eco-friendly footwear and speak on the future plans of the company.

Algae?

The Yeezy Foam Runners were manufactured in Atlanta from a combination of petroleum-based ethylene-vinyl acetate and foam produced from pond-sourced algae.

Kanye said he plans to move the entire Yeezy headquarters to his recently purchased 4,000 sq ft ranch in Cody, Wyoming.

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He also described a “seed to sole” eco-friendly process.

The clog-style runners bare a resemblance to Crocs, and Kanye said they’re looking into environmentally friendly dyes. For now, they appear to be available in khaki and white.

The algae sneakers will be available in early 2020 and retail for $75.

Fan Reaction

While some fans are welcoming the eco-friendly kicks, others are suspect how the algae produced shoes will hold up in the real world.

“If you fighting in them bullshit ass algae fungus yeezy crocs make sure you don’t step in water heard they melt like cotton candy,” one fan wrote on Twitter.

Another commented, “I really am gnna need those Yeezy algae joints.”

A third fan commended Kanye on his environmentalism efforts. “I do miss the old Ye but seeing him do stuff like this makes me feel like it’s alright. Let my man do good stuff.”

Kanye’s Wyoming Ranch

Back in September, Kanye purchased the sprawling Monster Lake Ranch in Cody, Wyoming. The place got its name because of the monster-sized trout that have been pulled out of the lake.

The ranch had been on the market for $14 million and included two homes, eight cabins, a restaurant, event center, barns and horse corrals.

Kanye has spoken about how much he loves the peace and tranquility in Wyoming and produced much of his “Jesus Is King” album at the ranch.

Most recently, he generated a ton of buzz around town when he performed a Sunday Service outdoor worship service that brought in thousands to The Buffalo Bill Center of the West.