Iceland turns your lockdown sweatpants into hiking boots

Iceland will upcycle your lockdown sweatpants into hiking boots 

Iceland wants the world to break out of their sad sweatpants and say hello to adventure, so this summer, the country is going to turn lockdown sweatpants into hiking boots.  

For over a year, the world has been stifled by restrictions, but with travel tantalisingly back on the agenda, people can finally break out of their year-long rut and experience the adventure and holidays they have been dreaming of and craving. Iceland wants to make sure everyone is ready for any and every adventure they can get their hands on by turning lockdown sweatpants into hiking boots. 

Located on Rainbow Street in downtown Reykjavik, the Sweatpant Boots pop-up will be open throughout July offering to upcycle lockdown sweatpants into exclusive, limited-edition and one-of-a-kind boots: Sweatpant Boots. 

The first people to book a slot at the pop-up and turn up with a valid plane ticket showing their arrival in Iceland from June 24th onwards will have their old, tired sweatpants magically transformed into a pair of hiking boots, with any remaining fabric becoming the bag in which to carry them home. 

To celebrate the launch of Sweatpant Boots, Icelandic rapper Cell7 and former song producer for Stop Wait Go, Ásgeir Orri Ásgeirsson, have recorded an exclusive new song with a supporting film… The Sweatpant Boot Song, listen here:   www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RR_D9_laZk  

Can't come to Iceland? Virtually try on the boots and experience Iceland

For those that can’t make it to Iceland just yet, the country has created a bespoke website that invites everyone to virtually try-on a pair of Sweatpant Boots and see what adventures await them in each of the seven regions of the country.  Visit Sweatpantboots.com to see Iceland’s unique landscapes, thrilling activities and cultural adventures.  

Zoe Aston, psychotherapist and mental health specialist: “Over the past 18 months, being locked down has had a significant effect on our mental health. Most of us found solace in our lockdown sweatpants which have become an emblem of the rut we have been stuck in. Now, as things change again, we can all benefit from taking upcycling our sweatpants into something new, to represent what you have learned rather than simply leaving the experience behind. 

As a result of the trauma we have all experienced, we now also have stress stored in our bodies, so the best way to complete the stress cycle is to experience exhilaration and excitement. Iceland is offering you just that: the opportunity to let go of the stress, the trauma and the lockdowns by experiencing adventure, and move forward in a new pair of shoes symbolic of all you have learned during the pandemic”.   

Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, President of Iceland: “We all hope that the end of the pandemic is in sight and that we can soon resume our normal lives after a year of various restrictions in society. And we can travel again! It is a pleasure to be able to welcome guests again to our beautiful country.” 

Sigríður Dögg Guðmundsdóttir, Head of Visit Iceland: “All over the world, we have been under various lockdowns and restrictions for over a year and let’s face it, we’re in a bit of a rut. In Iceland, we are lucky enough to have a wealth of adventure, from the bold waterfalls in the south, to the tranquil shores of the East and all the food, music and wellbeing culture across the country. For those ready to travel again, we want to make sure you’re prepared to experience life to its fullest and take on whatever adventure you’ve been craving. And some lucky visitors will get to do it with their own unique Sweatpant Boots.” 

The Sweatpant Boots have been made in partnership with Will’s Vegan, a sustainable and environmentally friendly boot brand, with the design and creation of the boots done by Icelandic designer and founder of Another Creation, Ýr Þrastardóttir. Over the course of the shop’s one month opening, three pairs of Sweatpant Boots will be created and given away for free each day.  

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