What started as a love story between the founders, Dong Seon Lee and Giuliana Borzillo, turned into a shared vision for refined, eco-sustainable footwear that respects both people and the planet. Together, they built a brand that reflects a minimal 90s identity through the lens of ethical craftsmanship and sustainability.

Founded in 2019 and successfully launched in 2022 through a crowdfunding campaign, ID.EIGHT is an Italian brand that challenges the norms of the sneaker industry by turning food waste and recycled materials into timeless, genderless designs— while maintaining sustainability at every stage of its supply chain up until the end of the product's life.

Image source: @id.eight

Sneakers from apples, grapes and corn

ID.EIGHT transforms the byproducts of the food and textile industry into high-quality, plant-based materials to craft sneakers that are both functional and expressive. Sourced primarily from Italy, their materials reflect the country’s innovation in sustainable textiles:

• BIOVEG: A biomaterial obtained from industrially produced corn or mycelium that emits 30% less CO2 emissions than traditional textiles.

• UPPEAL: A durable and versatile material derived from apple peels and cores.

• VEGEA: A vegan leather produced from "pomace"— the residue made up of grape stems and skin from wine production.

• RECYCLED (Italy, Spain, Portugal): Plastic and cotton that form 70% of the shoe's components like the laces, the label, the ribbon and the sole.

Image source: @id.eight

Sustainability at every step of the supply chain

The commitment to sustainability extends to their partners. All ID.EIGHT sneakers are made in Europe, with both materials and production sourced exclusively from within the continent. Every pair is manufactured in small, family-owned companies in Italy that maintain fair wages, safe working conditions, and full supply chain traceability.

The brand collaborates only with certified companies that hold environmental credentials, such as ISO and GRS, ensuring that sustainability isn’t just promised but practised. These partners promote the use of renewable energy and follow the principles of recycling and reuse, incorporating circularity into all stages of production.

Animal-free fashion

Sustainability for ID.EIGHT goes beyond environmental impact, which is why all of their materials are 100% vegan and animal cruelty-free, earning them a VVV+ rating from the Animal-Free Fashion project by LAV (Anti-Vivisection League). This certification recognises brands that are actively eliminating animal products from their supply chains. For ID.EIGHT this commitment stems from a belief that fashion should never come at the cost of another living being.

Image source: @id.eight

Closing the loop with circular solutions

In partnership with ESO Recycling and Must had, ID.EIGHT has introduced a take-back program that gives sneakers a second life. Customers can dispose of their old and no longer usable sneakers in bins located throughout Italian cities. These shoes are then processed in specialised recycling facilities that recover and repurpose up to 80% of the shoe's materials. The soles are shredded to use in the construction of playground and athletic track floorings, and the upper materials of the shoes are used for the production of sound-absorbing or heat-insulating panels.

With a goal of reaching 95% recyclability and an annual impact report documenting their environmental contributions, ID.EIGHT is setting up a new standard for post-consumer responsibility.

Read more on sustainable footwear and fashion on the Reflawn news page.