Prince William’s Eco-Sneaker Confession Turns Heads in Cape Town: 'He Said He's Got a Pair!'

Mar. 15, 2025

Prince William talking to Mary Allen of Natural Fiber Welding during a meeting with the Earthshot Prize finalists at Kirstenbosch National Garden, Cape Town on Nov. 6, 2024.Photo:Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty

Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty

Prince Williamrevealed another eco-friendly fashion choice as he took a stroll through the spectacular Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in South Africa on Nov. 6.

The Prince of Wales, 42, shared that he has a pair of sneakers that are made with materials from one of his Earthshot Prize finalists as he walked through the garden, which is nestled in the foothills of Table Mountain, Cape Town.

William was talking to Mary Allen from one of the shortlisted companies,Natural Fiber Welding, which makes plastic-free materials for use in shoes, bags and textiles. The prince met Allen and representatives from 14 other finalists who form the Earthshot Prize cohort this year.

The prince’seco-fashion choiceshave been capturing attention during hisvisit to South Africa, with the royal wearing several ties from the sustainable brand, Wilmok.

Prince William walking in Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden with Hannah Jones, the CEO of Earthshot Prize.GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/POOL/AFP via Getty

GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/POOL/AFP via Getty

William has heard about their experiences over the last few days — mainly theirinvolvement in the Earthshot Week’s Fellowship program, which helps them find solutions to grow and market their planet saving innovations.

Prince William at the Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa, on Nov. 6, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

“It’s amazing just how much he deeply understands everyone’s solutions, which is testament to how passionate he is about this project,” Allen, who is the creative director of Natural Fiber Welding, tells PEOPLE. “He was really engaged and present. It is wonderful to have a conversation who is really present.”

“He was chatting with me a little bit about our regenerative supply chain work with smallholders in Thailand which is some of the biggest impact NFW can have. As a company committed to transitioning materials away from fossil fuels – something we need just as desperately as we need an energy transition away from fossil fuels."

Prince William takes a walk with Garden Director Werner Voigt at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden on Nov. 6, 2024 in Cape Town, South Africa.Chris Jackson/Getty

After showing the prince around, Garden Director Voigt tells PEOPLE, “I love the fact he made time for everyone. It wasn’t rushed, it was very relaxed. There is genuine interest there in all the stories [the companies] had to tell about their innovations from around the world.”

“It seems to be his passion,” Voigt adds.

Voigt says they also spoke about the balance between the dependence on natural resources like fish and coast and the growing demand. “It’s such a fine balance," he explains. “He knows what’s going on around the world. When he met each finalist he would say. ‘You’re this company with this or that wonderful new products.’ He is engaged and he does his research.”

Prince William meets the 2024 Earthshot Prize Finalists at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town on Nov. 6, 2024.JEROME DELAY/POOL/AFP via Getty

JEROME DELAY/POOL/AFP via Getty

William also saw a milkwood tree that his fatherKing Charlesplanted almost exactly 13 years ago when he toured with the thenDuchess of Cornwall.

“At the top there we were talking about the tree his father – yesterday to the day 13 years ago – and that in July we planted a new one because we had a severe storm with the highest record of rainfall. He was quite interested in seeing that. He said his dad ‘plants trees everywhere!’ ” Voigt adds.

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Prince William with the finalists of the Earthshot Prize in Cape Town, South Africa, on Nov. 6, 2024.Victoria Jones - Pool/Getty

Also among those meeting the prince was Ninna Granucci, co-founder of another Earthshot Prize finalist,Ferment’Up. Earlier in the week, shetold PEOPLE: “It is brilliant how [William] is using all the attention he can get to focus on the problems that we need to solve and the solutions we can use to do that. I am very grateful to him for bringing so diverse people together with the same goal of finding solutions for our climate.”

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Kelly Adams, CEO ofAdvanced Thermovoltaic Systems, which has developed a technology to capture waste heat and convert it into electricity, is another finalist who has been taking part in Earthshot Week, He told PEOPLE, “We’re the first company to design [a product like this] at this scale. The captured electricity will be used on-site for future power. It cuts down the electrical power a plant will be using too. It’s a paradigm shift for the industry.”

Prince William walks through the gardens at Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town on Nov. 6, 2024.JEROME DELAY/POOL/AFP via Getty

He commended William’s ability to bring people together and amplify a message that resonates globally.

“This is an amazing opportunity for us. We are trying to get out to society and show what’s possible. When you’re at the forefront of innovation, that can take a long time,” he said.

source: people.com