What do you get when Kenyan creativity meets Santa Fe spirit? A sold-out showcase, 14,000 flip-flops saved, a step closer to flip flop free oceans, and hundreds of hearts moved.
Our IFAM collection represents over 14'000 flip flops rescued from the oceans.
Our amazing IFAM team!
This July, Ocean Sole proudly made our first appearance at the International Folk Art Market (IFAM) in Santa Fe — and the response was beyond anything we imagined. From day one, we were surrounded by collectors, creatives, and conscious shoppers seeking eco-friendly art gifts with a deeper story.
🎉 All 389 of our hand-carved animal sculptures — each made from discarded flip-flops found along Kenya’s waterways — found loving new homes. Every piece is a testament to circular design, coastal cleanup, and creativity that matters.
🌍 “Wait... Flip-Flops?” Yes — and Here’s Why
Visitors often asked: “Are these really made of flip-flops?”
Yes — every sculpture is made by hand in Kenya using flip-flops collected from beaches, rivers, and slums.
Francis Muvau - one of our amazing flip flop artists, holding a hand full of flip flops just before they go to be carved into beautiful flip flop sculptures for your homes and galaries.
What started as a local conservation project has grown into a global recycled flip-flop art movement. We’ve diverted hundreds of tonnes of marine-bound plastic from the environment — and turned it into something beautiful. That’s the power of eco-friendly animal sculptures rooted in community and impact.
💚 Our First IFAM — A Huge Success
Led by CEO Erin Smith, her husband Erik (who drove all 1,700 miles from Ponte Vedra, Florida with the collection), and our Kenyan team Joe Mwakiremba head of global sales and senior artist and head of production Jonathan Lenato, Ocean Sole showed up with a truckload of colour, care, and purpose.
IFAM attendees posing in front of our Flip Flop wings.
We met:
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Change makers looking for unique, meaningful pieces
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Gen Z funky couples drawn to bold, sustainable home décor
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Art lovers with an eye for storytelling and social change
And we were even featured in Pasatiempo, Santa Fe’s celebrated arts paper.
📰 Read the article here
Many of our Flip Flop masterpieces found new homes! Thank you to everyone who has supported our mission and acquired a piece of Ocean Sole Flip Flop art.
🦒 The Giraffe Who Stayed Behind
While every sculpture was adopted — all 389 of them — one towering giraffe stayed behind. But not for long.
We donated our Giraffe flip flop masterpiece to Jambo Café, a beloved local restaurant run by Ahmed, a Kenyan from Lamu. Now he stands proudly by the door, welcoming guests and reminding diners of the beauty that can come from waste.
🎹 The Pangolin That Moved a Musician
One story stood out. Composer and pianist Joe Illick adopted our pangolin sculpture — and shared a memory of his time on safari, when he waited in the rain for a rare chance to see a wild pangolin uncurl.
With only 30 pangolins left in Kenya, and as one of the most trafficked mammals in the world, this humble sculpture stirred something deeply human. It reminded us that art can carry empathy, education, and action — all at once.
🤔 Frequently Asked (and Beautifully Answered)
“Are these made by hand?”
Yes. Each piece is carefully carved and assembled by artisans in Kenya. No two are alike.
“How many flip-flops do you use?”
Depending on the piece, typically between 20 and 2'000 flip flops for the bigger masterpieces. At IFAM, our full collection used more than 14,000.
“Can I buy one online?”
Absolutely! Visit www.oceansole.com to shop our recycled sculptures and sustainable art for home.
“Why focus on flip-flops?”
Because flip-flops are the most worn shoe in the world — and one of the most commonly found marine plastics. We turn them from waste into wonder.
“Is this just art?”
No — this it's a conversation starter, it's recycled ocean plastic art with purpose. Every sale supports dignified employment, conservation education, and ocean cleanup in Kenya.
🛍️ Why It Matters
Beyond the colour and charm, our mission is rooted in impact:
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🌊 14,000 flip-flops kept out of oceans
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👩🎨 100+ artisans supported with steady work
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🐢 Dozens of sculptures raising awareness about endangered species
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🎁 A growing community choosing sustainable gift ideas that tell a story
💌 From Santa Fe, With Sole
Thank you to everyone who supported us at IFAM 2025. Whether you brought home a sea turtle, pangolin, or simply stopped to learn our story, you’ve helped us move the needle toward a cleaner, more creative world.
Follow us @oceansole and share your sculpture with #MySoleStory — because every flip-flop has a second life waiting.
Want to bring Ocean Sole to your school, gallery, or brand?
Let’s create something meaningful together. 🌱
