Kate Middleton kept it grounded in her trusted Veja Esplar sneakers on Tuesday, stepping out in the white-and-rose gold pair for a visit to the RHS Wellbeing Garden at Colchester Hospital.
The low-top style, which she’s worn several times since debuting it in 2021, features Veja’s signature V logo in metallic rose gold and a responsibly made leather upper. Like all Veja sneakers, the Esplar is produced in Brazil using sustainable materials like Amazonian wild rubber, recycled plastic bottles and organic cotton. Its name honors ESPLAR, a Brazilian NGO that supports organic and family farming — a mission Middleton quietly nods to by choosing the sneaker again and again.
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For this outing, the Princess of Wales paired the shoes with tailored earth tones and business-casual staples. She wore the Wind Hunter Charmer blazer by Blazé Milano, a double-breasted silhouette in a tan pinstripe grain de poudre, layered over Ralph Lauren’s tan-and-white Capri striped cotton-poplin shirt. A pair of chocolate brown trousers added contrast, with the hem cropped just above her ankle to let the Veja sneakers peek through.
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The royal kept her accessories classic and minimal: Cartier Trinity earrings, a delicate gold necklace with garnet from London-based Auree Jewelry and her signature sapphire engagement ring.
The engagement marked a meaningful moment for Middleton, who is easing back into public life following a course of chemotherapy. Her appearance coincided with the RHS’s donation of 50 Catherine’s Rose plants — a variety named in her honor, with proceeds going to the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity.
Veja’s rise from under-the-radar sustainable label to royal-approved staple is well documented. Since Meghan Markle first wore the brand at the Invictus Games in 2018, the Paris-based company has gained a cult following, all without spending a dime on advertising or gifting. Today, the brand produces more than 2 million pairs of sneakers a year, stocked at major retailers like Zappos, Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s, among others.
Veja also recently launched its first line of sandals. The new styles use the same eco-conscious materials and Brazilian-sourced wild rubber as their cult-favorite sneakers.