Flip-flops are universally affordable and accessible shoes. But the ocean is angrily washing ashore the synthetic open-toed footwear. These shoes litter the coastlines of East Africa and take up to 100 years to degrade, endangering marine life. In Kenya, one organisation is recycling this pollution into an unlikely finished product – art.
Ocean Sole is the enterprise empowering locals to carve sculptures from pairs of flip-flops. The initiative’s CEO Erin Smith is passionate about drawing attention to the magnitude of destructive litter. “The pollution from discarded flip-flops can cause a lot of damage,” Smith says. The true cost of these affordable rubber shoes is the lives of animals. Most flip-flops are made from non-recyclable plastics that are hazardous to marine creatures. Artists at Ocean Sole create sculptures of wildlife such as turtles and dolphins, highlighting their plight.
While the art inspires conservation for our oceans, it’s also creating employment. Local artisans collect and carve flip-flops into vibrant products to be sold online and at local markets. The proceeds from sales are sustaining the livelihoods of Kenyans and their families. Ocean Sole provides a regular income to community members involved, and assists over 1 000 people every year.
In addition to this, the initiative contributes up to 15% of their revenue to cleaning up beaches, educational programmes, and conservation efforts. “Our sculptures create a visual awareness for the pollution problem,” Smith says. The big, bold, and colourful art pieces not only reduce waste, but uplift local communities. “By turning forgotten flip-flops into art, we are putting the shoe on the other foot,” Smith says.
Footage and photos by Ocean Sole were used in the creation of this film.
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