PRESS RELEASE
Sheffield’s Climbing Ropes Turned Into Sustainable Sandals
Sheffield’s Climbing Ropes Turned Into Sustainable Sandals
PRESS RELEASE
Wildsole launches the Wildsole Scavenger sandal collaboration at Sheffield Adventure Film Festival.
Sheffield, UK - Launching 21 March
Retired climbing ropes from Sheffield’s climbing community are being given a second life as high-performance barefoot sandals, as local footwear brand Wildsole unveils its newest model at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (SHAFF).
Wildsole, the first company in the UK to manufacture handmade barefoot adventure sandals, will officially launch the Wildsole Scavenger sandal on 21 March. The design has been developed in collaboration with fellow Sheffield business Scavenger, specialists in repurposing retired climbing gear.
The Wildsole Scavenger sandal features straps crafted from climbing ropes collected from Sheffield’s indoor climbing venues and the wider climbing community. Ropes engineered for exceptional strength are recovered, cleaned, and reworked into durable, character-rich sandal straps.
Tash from Scavenger said:
"It feels amazing to be working on this mission with another Sheffield business and I think we've created something really special, giving these climbing ropes the retirement they deserve, back out into nature and out on the trails."
Circular design in action
Climbing ropes are typically retired after several years of use or repeated falls, despite the materials remaining structurally resilient. A single rope can measure between 50 and 80 metres, yet most retired ropes are currently discarded or incinerated.
Each reclaimed rope used in the Wildsole Scavenger sandal yields approximately 30 pairs, creating genuinely limited-edition colour ways. Once a rope has been fully repurposed, that combination will not be repeated.
Wildsole co-founder Tom Harper said:
“Climbing ropes are built to last and repurposing them feels like an obvious step towards a more circular approach to footwear. Every rope has its own story, which means no two pairs are ever identical.”
Rooted in Sheffield’s outdoor culture
The collaboration reflects Sheffield’s longstanding connection to climbing, craft, and outdoor living as materials sourced from the local climbing community are reimagined into sandals handmade locally by Wildsole’s small, family-run team.
Founded by four friends
Tom Harper, Faye Pinson, James Jones, and Naomi Jones, Wildsole sandals are designed and handmade in Sheffield by Tom and Faye. Despite its small-scale production, the brand now sells to customers across the UK and internationally.
Designed for natural movement
Wildsole sandals are designed based on barefoot principles and feature thin, flexible soles, a wide natural toe shape, and an adjustable rope-strap system designed to support natural foot movement across all terrains and environments. They are made for walking, running, swimming and everyday activities.
Launch and availability
The Wildsole Scavenger sandal launches at the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF) on 21 March 2026.
ShAFF: shaff.co.uk
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