Beyonce, 31, has been dubbed 'cruel' by animal welfare organisation PETA for commissioning custom-made sneakers that feature no fewer than five different animal skins: stingray, anaconda, ostrich, crocodile and calf.

"These custom-made kicks come with a high price - and it's paid by the various animals who were beaten and skinned alive or cruelly farmed and killed," said a spokesperson from animal-rights organisation PETA.

The cream high-top wedge-style sneakers are a collaboration between designer Isabel Marant and shoe brand PMK (Perfectly Made Kicks). The latter has in the past crafted shoes for Beyonce's 43-year-old rap mogul husband, Jay-Z, using the skins of ostrich, python, boa, crocodile, lizard, alligator and sting ray. 

Called the King-Bey, an ordinary pair of the shoes cost around NZD$422, but the Beyonce animal-skin special will cost a lot more. 

"Summoned by King Bey and given the task to create a custom design worthy of her approval, PMK takes the Isabel Marant sneaker wedge back to the beginning of time and gives it what they call the Eden treatment," sneaker brand PMK's website boasts. "Hybrids of land and sea skins are used to create this handcrafted creation. Stingray, Ostrich, calf’s fur, Crocodile, and Anaconda give the already impeccable design attitude and the tones of white mixed with gold stitched details produce a feeling of elegance, mimicking the southern belle's sweet and fierce persona."  

Last month, PETA criticised Beyonce for wearing cowhide, python, and iguana skin (and all in one bodysuit) during her Super Bowl halftime show - the singer has yet to respond on either matter.

- © Fairfax NZ News

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