The Innovator: Twisted X
Since entering the work category in 2007, Texas-based brand Twisted X has developed in-house technologies like CellStretch that up the comfort feel in safety footwear. And the company, which was certified climate neutral in 2020, also has applied its efforts to green innovations such as EcoTWX, a textile that is 100% upcycled from recycled PET water bottles. The brand estimates each pair of shoes using EcoTWX removes an average of 13 plastic bottles from landfills. The material is used for uppers in numerous Twisted X casual and outdoor shoes, as well as in its Work Kicks shoe, equipped with a nano-composite safety toe. “This style appeals to a younger audience because it’s a blend of the athletic look they love with the sustainability components they demand added right in,” said Lemon. “We’re getting ready to add a few more colors in the fall to continue to meet their needs.”