Chris Smalling interview: Roma star unveils Nike’s Happy Pineapple trainers

The footballer explains why he invested in pineapple leather

English footballer Chris Smalling plays for Italian club A.S. Roma
English footballer Chris Smalling plays for Italian club A.S. Roma
(Image credit: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)

Pineapple trainers? It’s not as odd as it sounds and certainly Nike doesn’t seem to think so. The sportswear giant has just released its “Happy Pineapple” collection counting six trainer models that use a material called Piñatex® derived from the spiky tropical fruit. The collaboration marks the first time in its history that the brand has used a bio-material in place of leather.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up
To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us