Recycled Tube Seat Shoes

Please put seats on feet. Yes, I have got this the right way around. Thanks to Ian D I found that some bright sparks have got the London Underground and First Group to come up with another use for old Tube moquette or seat upholstery.


Thanks to Central Saint Martins College (who else) graduate Robert Taylor and film maker/ music promoter Caroline Read, you can buy a pair of Converse & Vivienne Westwood inspired Above+Below London™ shoes

"The collection exclusively incorporates ‘rare’, ‘vintage’ and ‘ultra rare’ iconic retro textiles from the 50’s, 60's, 70's, 80's and 90’s reclaimed from seats on London's Underground tube carriages and buses.....



They incorporate recycled tyre rubber in the soles, restored Tube and bus seat textiles in the uppers and re-used leather cheque book wallets in the trim. These shoes can comfortably withstand the harsh realities of daily life - while still catching the eye and making a statement!"

Personally, I'm not sure I'd shell out between £70 & £90 for a pair of them, but I'm a cheapskate. The idea's brilliant and they're actually better value for money than other recycled Tube seat products I've seen. The limited edition moquette dog coats in the London Transport Museum shop were a bit pricey!

I am almost tempted though as the enthusiastic copy rocks! "Everyone's taken a trip on London's Tube (or bus) not least .... the Queen and heads of State!

Every pair of Above+Belows connects to the essence of our historic metropolis via the District, Victoria, Northern, Central, Metropolitan, Piccadilly and Bakerloo Lines and London's buses. Fabrics from each line have been hand selected and restored to former, sometimes faded glory. Whichever one you decide on, it will be a Limited Edition. Remade for cool eco-urbanites, those with a taste for industrial chic, fanatics of nostalgic London memorabilia or stylish individualists with a twist."


I'm sure First Group overlooked the model with his feet on the seats above, in the interests of coolness!

Above+Below London™ also pledge to donate a tree for each pair they sell, to be planted inside the M25 by Trees for Cities. I'll be keeping an eye out for them on the Tube, as they'd be perfect candidates for the Tube Fashion Victim series.


However, I can't quite see them becoming as popular as Converses on the Tube yet.