Id.Eight

What Id.Eight does

ID.EIGHT (legal entity ID LAB S.R.L.) is a Florence-based, founder-controlled sustainable sneaker brand launched in 2019 by Korean designer Dong Seon Lee and Italian sustainability and marketing expert Giuliana Borzillo. The company designs genderless, 1990s-inspired sneakers at price points between €189 and €229 per pair across three core lines — HANA, URIDURI, and MARU — supplemented by curated Icons and Best Seller collections. Its core technology is the substitution of conventional leather and petroleum-based synthetics with bio-based and recycled feedstocks, including BioVeg (85% plant-based from corn/mycelium), Uppeal (44% from apple waste), Vegea (55% from grape marc), Desserto (80% cactus), Go!Zero (30% recycled rubber via reverse vulcanization), and 70%+ recycled polyamide, polyester, Lycra, and mesh components. All products hold the LAV VVV+ Animal Free Fashion certification, and packaging is 90% recycled FSC-certified.

Revenue is generated through one-time unit sales of sneakers, primarily via the company's own Shopify-based e-commerce storefront (id-eight.com), supplemented by wholesale transactions through a "Become a Reseller" channel, pop-up retail activations (notably at Roma Termini station in 2024 and 2025), and trade-show presence (Pitti Uomo Fall 2026, Fuorisalone, Maker Faire Rome). The company serves two main customer segments: individual environmentally conscious and fashion-forward consumers purchasing DTC, and boutique fashion retailers and resellers (with press-confirmed presence in South Korea and Greece). Products ship to roughly 19 countries across Europe, Asia (Japan, South Korea), and Canada, with explicit exclusion of the United States. End-of-life circularity is handled through an ESO Recycling partnership that recovers 87% of sneaker materials.

The business is privately held, with founders retaining control; the company received its first institutional capital — a €350,000 seed round in March 2024 from impact investor a|impact – Avanzi Etica SICAF EuVECA — earmarked for product expansion and internationalization into Germany and the Netherlands. Earlier crowdfunding on Kickstarter in February 2020 raised over €36,000 from 320 backers and validated initial demand. Headcount is reported at 1–10 employees, no parent company or subsidiaries are disclosed, and no M&A, secondary transactions, or exit events have been announced.

Name

Id.Eight

Legal name

ID LAB S.R.L.

Website

https://id-eight.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

ID.EIGHT (ID LAB S.R.L.) is a Florence-based sustainable sneaker brand founded in 2019 that designs genderless, 1990s-inspired footwear from food industry waste (apple peels, grape marc, cactus) and recycled inputs, selling directly to environmentally conscious consumers across 19+ countries and through boutique resellers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sustainable Footwear

NAICS

Shoe Retailers (45821)

SIC

Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Athletic Footwear & Sport Apparel Retail (CRAMABAC)

Keywords

• Sustainable footwear
• Eco-friendly sneakers
• Vegan sneakers
• Biobased materials
• Recycled sneakers

Headquarters

HQ city

Firenze

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Direct Sneaker Sales: One-time transaction sales of sustainable sneakers directly to consumers through e-commerce website. Products include HANA (€229), URIDURI (€189), and MARU (€199) collections with various color variants. No subscription model; individual product purchases with occasional promotional pricing.
2. Reseller/Wholesale: B2B sales to retailers and resellers through 'Become a Reseller' program. Physical store distribution with store locator on website for customers to find nearby retailers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels14 records

Core offering

ID.EIGHT designs, manufactures and sells sustainable, 100% vegan sneakers built from biobased materials derived from food industry waste (apple peels, grape marc, cactus leaves, corn) and recycled materials. The core product portfolio comprises three genderless, 1990s-inspired sneaker lines — HANA (€229), URIDURI (€189) and MARU (€199) — plus curated ID8 ICONS and BEST SELLER collections, sold primarily through a direct-to-consumer e-commerce store at id-eight.com and supplemented by pop-up retail, a reseller/wholesale program, and international retail partners across Europe and Asia.

Product overview

ID.EIGHT is a Florence-based sustainable sneaker brand offering three core product lines: HANA (the pioneering icon model), URIDURI (the connection-focused design), and MARU (the community-centered model). These genderless sneakers are crafted from sustainable materials derived from food industry waste including apple peels, grape stalks, cactus, corn, and recycled plastics. The product portfolio includes curated collections (Icons, Best Sellers), sustainable material innovations (BioVeg, Uppeal, Vegea, Desserto), and circular economy programs (sneaker recycling). The brand recently launched Experience ID.EIGHT, a digital platform with QR code access for product traceability and community engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• HANA Iconic 1990s-inspired genderless sneaker and ID.EIGHT's flagship model, priced at €229 per pair, available in multiple color variants and sizes 36-46. Made with the brand's biobased and recycled materials portfolio (BioVeg, Uppeal, Vegea, Desserto, Go!Zero). Target customer is the environmentally conscious, fashion-aware individual consumer.
• URIDURI Mid-tier 1990s-inspired genderless sneaker priced at €189 per pair, produced with eco-friendly materials and low-impact processes. Available in multiple color variants including Nude Tone, Raw Indigo, Powder Pink, White Crinkle, Soft Sky, Olive Green, Cocoa, Sage, Hot Paprika, Winter Rose, Silver, and Gold. For individual consumers seeking sustainability at a lower price point than HANA.
• MARU Community-focused 1990s-inspired genderless sneaker priced at €199 per pair, positioned between HANA and URIDURI. Available in color variants including Almond Cream, Game Over, Pink Blend, Steel Gray, Biscuit, Dynamic Green, White Essence and Mixed Blues. For the brand's community of existing supporters and individual consumers.
• ID8 ICONS Curated collection of iconic historical ID.EIGHT sneaker models presented as a standalone shoppable sub-brand, featuring timeless 1990s silhouettes and signature color palettes. For individual consumers seeking proven, long-running ID.EIGHT designs.
• BEST SELLER Collection Shoppable collection curating ID.EIGHT's best-selling sneaker models as preferred by the community, featuring essential 1990s silhouettes and genderless design. For individual consumers looking for the brand's most popular styles.
• Experience ID.EIGHT Digital platform accessible via a QR code hidden in the sneaker tongue, combining product traceability, urban culture content and community participation. Provided as part of the post-purchase sneaker experience for ID.EIGHT customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• CO2 emissions reduced by approximately 30% per square meter using BioVeg material compared to traditional materials
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ESO RecyclingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian circular economy partner with patented industrial recycling process for sports footwear. Their Tolentino facility recovers 87% of sneaker materials including rubber granules for athletic tracks and upper materials for acoustic/thermal panels. Partnership enables ID.EIGHT end-of-life recycling program for customers.
• Must HadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerItalian circular economy company supporting sustainable enterprises in implementing closed-loop solutions. Partner in ID.EIGHT's take-back and recycling initiatives alongside ESO Recycling.
• DisanaPiantaminorOthersPartnership announced November 2024 to extend sneaker lifespan through plant-based care products. Enables customers to maintain and prolong use of ID.EIGHT footwear, reducing environmental impact through longer product lifecycle.
• LAV (Lega Anti Vivisezione)coreOthersItalian animal rights organization providing Animal Free Fashion certification. Awarded VVV+ rating (highest tier) for complete absence of animal-derived materials. Ongoing certification partnership ensuring cruelty-free standards maintained across all products.
• FSC (Forest Stewardship Council)minorOthersInternational certification organization ensuring cardboard packaging contains 90% recycled certified materials from responsibly managed forests. Partnership supports sustainable packaging practices.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Nothing New: US sustainable sneaker brand using recycled water bottles and ocean plastics. Comparable DTC-first sustainable sneaker approach at similar price points with circularity messaging.
• Veja: French sustainable sneaker brand using wild rubber, organic cotton, and recycled materials. Closest direct peer — same DTC + wholesale model, comparable price band (€140-€170), and similarly strong eco-credentials narrative.
• Allbirds: US/NZ sustainable footwear brand using wool, eucalyptus, and sugarcane-based foams. Direct peer in eco-friendly everyday sneakers with global DTC and retail distribution; comparable price points.
• Cariuma: Brazilian sustainable sneaker brand using organic cotton, recycled plastics, and natural rubber. Direct peer in DTC sustainable casual sneakers with comparable price band and Latin-American/European design heritage.
• Saola: French eco-friendly sneaker brand using recycled plastics, organic cotton, and natural materials. Direct peer targeting sustainability-conscious consumers in Europe with similar premium positioning.
• Thousand Fell: US sustainable sneaker brand with closed-loop recycling take-back program for end-of-life shoes. Most comparable peer to ID.EIGHT on the recycling/circulareconomy dimension, though now more apparel-focused.

Broad incumbents

• Adidas: Global athletic footwear giant with sustainability initiatives (Parley, Futurecraft Loop, vegan product lines). Broad incumbent that competes on sustainability narrative at massive scale; ID.EIGHT's Italian-Korean design heritage is its counter-positioning.
• Nike: Global footwear leader with Move to Zero sustainability platform and Space Hippie / recycled-material collections. Broad incumbent setting baseline consumer expectations for sustainable sneakers at all price points.
• Asics: Global athletic footwear brand with sustainability-focused running lines (e.g., GEL-Nimbus recycled editions). Broad incumbent that ID.EIGHT's sport-inspired silhouettes are adjacent to, particularly in performance casual wear.

Regional players

• El Naturalista: Spanish sustainable footwear brand using natural and recycled materials with strong European retail distribution. Regional peer sharing Iberian/Mediterranean sustainability heritage and physical-retail-channel emphasis.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCwmcY6iWJ8biN-yR9STD-_Q?sub_confirmation=1
• Facebookfacebook.com/id.eight.shoes
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/id-eight
• Instagraminstagram.com/id.eight
• TikToktiktok.com/@id.eight

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Id.Eight