The co-founder of a running shoe brand beloved by the likes of Mila Kunis, Jennifer Garner and Emma Watson has revealed the very unique secret behind his minimalist designs.
Tim Brown, the New Zealand born co-founder of Allbirds, teamed up with Joey Zwillinger, an engineer and renewables expert, to craft a revolutionary wool fabric made specifically for footwear.
The result was an entirely new category of shoes ‘inspired by natural materials, and an ongoing mantra to create better things in a better way’.
Tim Brown (pictured), the New Zealand born co-founder of Allbirds, teamed up with Joey Zwillinger, an engineer and renewables expert, to craft a revolutionary wool fabric made specifically for footwear
The brand is a favourite of Jennifer Garner (left) and Whitney Port (right)
‘The thinking behind Allbirds was it would be innovative to do nothing; to strip back a shoe and create something simple and natural. Sometimes innovation is about taking things away,’ he said
‘We’ve made an equivalent product [to other shoe manufacturers], but in a better way environmentally, that’s our brand, our the mission and a non-negotiable for us,’ Mr Brown told Green + Simple.
‘The thinking behind Allbirds was it would be innovative to do nothing; to strip back a shoe and create something simple and natural. Sometimes innovation is about taking things away.’
The former professional football player’s vision of a minimalist line of runners made from eco-friendly materials like Merino wool and eucalyptus fibre with textured laces made with plastic bottles was born on the soccer field in 2008.
The former professional football player’s vision of a minimalist line of runners made from eco-friendly materials was born on the soccer field in 2008
They have since sold more than one million pairs of the shoes and describe them as ‘the most comfortable shoes in the world’ and the designs have been worn by the likes of Barack Obama and Oprah
Then playing for the Newcastle Jets, Mr Brown started to realise his endless supply of sneakers from his sponsor was ‘totally unnecessary’.
They feel like slippers, but I also wear them to go to the gym.
They have since sold more than one million pairs of the shoes and describe them as ‘the most comfortable shoes in the world’ and the designs have been worn by the likes of Barack Obama and Oprah.
One of the secrets to the brand’s success is their use of eucalyptus trees.
‘We’ve used 3D imaging to take eucalyptus fibre and its cooling properties which are perfect for sweaty feet and create a running shoe,’ Mr Brown told Green + Simple.
Mila Kunis (right) is also a fan of the comfortable shoes
‘Early on we realised that as remarkable as wool is, when the weather gets hot and you’re wearing wool shoes without socks it isn’t as good of an experience as it could be,’ he told Stuff
For those who question how practical it is to combine wool with running, Mr Brown has all the answers.
‘Early on we realised that as remarkable as wool is, when the weather gets hot and you’re wearing wool shoes without socks it isn’t as good of an experience as it could be,’ he told Stuff.
‘We set out to find a new material that could deliver an even better comfort feeling and found eucalyptus fibre.
‘Eucalyptus has both incredible hand-feel and softness but also a naturally cooling property that made it the perfect solution.’
‘Eucalyptus has both incredible hand-feel and softness but also a naturally cooling property that made it the perfect solution,’ he said
Actress Emma Watson (pictured) has been vocal about her love for the brand since it launched and told The Daily Shuffle that they are her ‘warmest and most comfortable pair of shoes’
Actress Emma Watson has been vocal about her love for the brand since it launched and told The Daily Shuffle that they are her ‘warmest and most comfortable pair of shoes’.
‘I wear them when I go to airports, I wear them inside the house,’ she said,
‘They feel like slippers, but I also wear them to go to the gym, so they basically never come off my feet.
‘I have them in their nude-y pink colour, and they’re just the best. I have them in black as well, which are really good.’
The women’s wool runners, wool loungers and tree runners start from AUD $140 .