Nicki Minaj and Loci champion animal rights with vegan sneaker line

Rapper Nicki Minaj has released her first collection of vegan sneakers in collaboration with British brand Loci. She has earned applause from animal rights defenders at PETA.

The new collection of vegan sneakers Nicki Minaj designed is now available on Loci's website. This British company was established in 2021 and specializes in footwear and clothing made entirely without materials and accessories of animal origin.

Minaj announced the partnership in March, describing it as "absolute dream come true." She expressed her excitement on Instagram: "11 new pairs of my OWN sneaker. 11 completely different designs for you to choose from. An absolute dream come true. I can’t WAIT for you guys to see my 1st collection!!!!" She continued: "Thank you to my team for helping me make this dream come to fruition. This isn’t a sponsorship. I’m an owner & partner & we will be showing you the first complete collection on 4/12."

The Nicki Minaj x Loci collaboration offers 11 sneaker models, each featuring the artist's signature pink accents. Embroidered "Minaj royal portraits" adorn the tongues, nodding to the British heritage of Loci and Minaj's standing as the "queen of rap". These ethical shoes are not inexpensive, priced between approximately £150 and £160. Orders can be placed on the brand's website, with shipping scheduled for July.

PETA, the world's largest international organization advocating for animal rights, recognized Minaj's collection on April 16th with a post on the X portal. The message stated: "Calling all the barbs. We’re excited to see that @nickiminaj’s new line of #vegan sneakers spared cows & other animals by not using leather."

In the graphic released with the post, PETA highlighted: "No animals suffered for this line! The collab with Loci uses recycled bottles, recycled nylon & brass, cork, bamboo, & bio leather instead of animal-derived materials!"