Anand Mahindra is ready to fund shoe startup that turns plastic bags, bottles into sneakers. Watch video

Ashay Bhave (23) started a shoe manufacturing company called “Thaely” that has helped solve the pollution problem by reusing plastic bags and bottles to design sneakers.  According to a video by Business Insider, shared by Anand Mahindra, Bhave launched the company in July this year, named the brand ‘Thaely’ that literally translates to plastic carry bags in Hindi. Bhave came up with the idea while pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in 2017.

Each pair of Thaely Y2K Pros shoes contains 10 plastic bags and 12 bottles. For $110 they will ship anywhere in the world. Bhave partnered with a waste-removal company that hires ragpickers. Triotap Technologies offers them a steady paycheck. During the making of the shoes, a plastic bag is turned into a fabric called ThaelyTex with the help of heat and pressure. The fabric is then cut into shoe patterns. Plastic bottles recycled as a fabric called rPET (Polyethylene Terephthalate), is used for lining, shoelaces, packaging and other parts.

The sole is made up of recycled rubber from industrial scrap and tires. Each Thaely pair of shoes helps recycle 12 plastic bottles and 10 plastic bags. Thaely has recycled about 36,000 plastic bags and 25,000 plastic bottles since it started production in July this year.

Lauding the shoe-making startup up, Anand Mahindra said that if the company raises funds that he would also participate. “Embarrassed I didn’t know about this inspiring startup. These are the kinds of startups we need to cheer on—not just the obvious unicorns. I’m going to buy a pair today. (Can someone tell me the best way to get them?) And when he raises funds-count me in!” Mahindra wrote on Twitter.