Have you been hankering after a pair of jelly shoes? You’re not alone. There has been a 100 per cent growth in Google searches for jelly sandals in the past month. The sudden style surge is thanks to designer brands including The Row, Coach, and Chloe deploying their own very chic versions of them in their summer collections.
The Row’s sell-out PVC ballerinas come in a caged mesh, while Chloe gave theirs a beach-to-bar update with an ankle strap and kitten heel, and Coach went full 90’s fisherman. All cute and trendy, but there’s a problem: most of these sandals are made of PVC plastic, one of the most problematic plastics in the world to dispose of safely. No-one is talking about that.
But what to do if you like the look, but hate the landfill vibes? Our first suggestion is to buy a slightly more expensive pair you’ll value more, with more considered compositions, plus some of the brands making them offer recycling solutions. We also recommend looking for styles made from 100% thermoplastic which releases less toxic chemicals when disposed of, or natural rubber, which biodegrades over time.
Cos’s cut-out jelly ballet flats are made from thermoplastic and have a leather sole for extra comfort and longevity – these get the Good Housekeeping stamp of approval, extra points if you keep them in use for years. Otherwise, if you’re looking to love them for years, Ancient Greeks’ The Row inspired Iro caged ballet flats, are made of 100% natural rubber and come in twelve colours. For a longer-lasting take on this flash-in-the-pan trend, Mango’s collaboration with British Designer Supriya Lele offers a gorgeous nude jelly shoe with a slingback and toe-post; they look barely there, but definitely make a statement.
Cheaper styles from fan favourite JuJu jellies and Melissa, are, I’m afraid, made from PVC so if you are going to buy a cheap pair, commit to using them for as many years as possible. If no fabric composition is given, like the pair we’ve found at M&S for under £20 – it is plastic. For a designer double of the Chloe, head to Free People and save £382 on a lookalike.
Looking through the endless social media comments on the jelly sandals trend – most people complain they make their feet smelly, sweaty and give them blisters. But at least they are easy to clean and are waterproof. So the question really is: nostalgia over practicality? We’ll leave you choose.
