Three decades ago, 61,820 pairs of Nike Air Jordan 5 sneakers were pillaged by the Pacific Ocean. “The Great Shoe Spill of 1990” transpired when a shipping capsized during an epic storm, releasing five 40-foot containers—valued at approximately $7.7 million—into the abyss. As sneakers randomly washed up on far-flung beaches, the phenomenon went viral as enthusiasts collected and traded the pirate’s booty. To address the event’s environmentally horrid consequences, the Vermont-based artist Andy Yoder pokes fun at sneaker culture by adorning 240 Air Jordan 5 replicas in various brand identities, from The Lakers and Corona to Harry Styles’ new album artwork. “The issue of how consumer culture affects the environment isn’t new,” said Yoder, “but it has become politicized and suffers from message fatigue.”

Photography by Rachel Portesi