The footwear industry has long been a leader in innovative design. Yet, when it comes to materials, it has remained locked in plastic’s grip.
But what if removing plastic didn’t limit design and instead liberated it? We went to our brilliant creative team to find out.
Q: We recently launched The Ripple Shoe, a case study for a 100% plastic-free shoe made with Liquidplant. Can you tell us about it?
A: This is more than a shoe, it’s a proof of concept. Made entirely with Liquidplant it shows that we don’t need plastic to achieve high performance. Every detail was designed to reflect transformation, from the ripple motif to the futuristic form. It’s our invitation to reimagine what the future of footwear can look and feel like.
Q: Why do innovative materials like Liquidplant push footwear design forward?
A: The shoe industry generates massive waste, and it's time for a new path forward. Liquidplant is the World’s First 100% Plant-based, High-Performance Plastic Alternative. Making Plastic-Free a Reality. It’s durable, versatile, and plastic-free, able to replace multiple parts of the shoe and proves that great design doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense.
Q: We know that Liquidplant easily competes with plastic on performance. Are there other ways, like comfort, that plastic-free materials can help?
A: Absolutely. Liquidplant delivers on comfort, not just performance. It’s soft yet supportive, with just the right elasticity for durability and movement. Plus, it withstands temperatures from -40°F to 212+°F, so it holds up in any climate. Plastic-free doesn’t mean limited, it opens the design world to be even more expressive.
Q: Final question: have any wisdom for other designers who want to create beautiful shoes with plastic-free materials like Liquidplant?
A: Start with purpose. Sustainability to me means designing with the future in mind, creating safer, smarter solutions for the next generation. It’s about pushing what’s possible and how they impact the world long after we’re gone. As designers we should see it as both a responsibility to leave something better behind and to inspire others to do the same.