Orba is a footwear brand on a mission to eliminate plastic waste by designing plant-based sneakers. Every material is carefully selected for its natural origin and end-of-life impact. The result is a thoughtfully designed product made from nature, offering consumers a stylish alternative to petroleum-based shoes.

I led the end-to-end development of Orba’s first product, a plant-based sneaker designed from the ground up. Over a 18-month R&D period, I guided a multidisciplinary team of designers, material experts and production partners to turn a radical concept into a viable, award-winning product.

Project management was core to this work, ensuring smooth coordination across disciplines while navigating the unique constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. From prototyping through to tooling, pattern making and packaging, we built out the entire supply chain, sourcing sustainable materials, developing custom components and establishing manufacturing pipelines across multiple countries.

A science-backed approach underpinned every design and material choice, helping the product stand apart from greenwashed competitors. Every input was researched and tested to ensure it aligned with the shoe’s end-of-life goals without compromising performance or aesthetics.