SAYE
SAYE is a Barcelona-based, direct-to-consumer sustainable sneaker brand founded in 2018 that designs vegan, partially recyclable footwear manufactured in Portugal, selling globally online to consumers seeking stylish, lower-impact everyday shoes while planting two trees per pair sold.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersBarcelona, Spain
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What SAYE does
SAYE is a Barcelona-based direct-to-consumer sneaker brand founded in 2018 that designs, markets, and sells sustainable vegan footwear globally through its own e-commerce storefront at sayebrand.com. The company manufactures in Portugal using vegan corn nappa leather, natural rubber, and recycled materials sourced from automotive-factory and carpentry-industry waste streams, with select color accents derived from apple-waste pigments developed in collaboration with Japanese artist Yosuke Amemiya. Its core catalog spans 8+ silhouettes (M89 Icon, M26 Dawn, M89 Ground, M70 Muse, M01 Atlas, M70 Soul, M82 Core, M89 High) offered in up to 39 colorways, complemented by accessories including socks, shoe care, clothing, caps, and tote bags, and a 100% recyclable "Not Just Vegan" collection.
SAYE operates a one-time-purchase DTC revenue model with unit pricing ranging from approximately $139 to $220 USD, with prices displayed inclusive of taxes and seasonal promotional discounts applied. The company sells directly to men, women, and unisex consumers seeking sustainable everyday footwear, positioning the brand around a measurable environmental impact pledge: two trees planted for every pair sold. Marketing is concentrated on organic social (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest, LinkedIn) and earned media coverage in British Vogue, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, GQ, and Hypebae, with no disclosed wholesale or third-party marketplace distribution. The business is privately held, co-founded by CEO Marta Llaquet Pujol and co-founder Lizzie Sabin Guerin, with a single disclosed seed funding round of approximately $434,795 in May 2018 and no subsequent institutional capital on record.
SAYE firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- SAYE
- Legal name
- SAYE
- Website
- https://global.sayebrand.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- SAYE is a Barcelona-based, direct-to-consumer sustainable sneaker brand founded in 2018 that designs vegan, partially recyclable footwear manufactured in Portugal, selling globally online to consumers seeking stylish, lower-impact everyday shoes while planting two trees per pair sold.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
SAYE industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Sustainable Footwear
- NAICS
- Shoe Retailers (45821), Footwear Manufacturing (316210)
- SIC
- Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB)
Keywords
Where SAYE is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Barcelona
- HQ country
- Spain
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
SAYE business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct Sneaker Sales: One-time purchase of sustainable sneakers and accessories through direct e-commerce. Products sold at various price points with seasonal sales and discounts. Includes men's, women's, and unisex silhouettes.
- Accessories: Sale of complementary products including socks, shoe care, clothing, caps, and tote bags.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard sneaker pricing ranging from $139 to $220 USD |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels7 records
SAYE product offering
Product offeringCore offering
SAYE designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable vegan sneakers through its own direct-to-consumer e-commerce site. Sneakers are produced in Portugal using vegan corn napa leather, natural rubber, and recycled materials from automotive and carpentry waste, with each pair triggering the planting of two trees. The portfolio spans eight silhouettes across men's, women's, and unisex categories, complemented by socks, shoe care, clothing, caps, and tote bags.
Product overview
SAYE is a Barcelona-based sustainable sneaker brand founded in 2018, offering a portfolio of eco-friendly footwear products. The core product line includes multiple sneaker silhouettes: the flagship M89 Icon (available in standard, Cactus, and Signature variants), the lightweight M26 Dawn, the minimalist M89 Ground barefoot sneaker, the Mary Jane-style M70 Muse, the active M01 Atlas, the retro M70 Soul, and the essentials-focused M82 Core. The company also produces the Not Just Vegan collection featuring 100% recyclable sneakers that plant two trees per pair sold. SAYE extends its brand into accessories including socks, shoe care products, clothing, caps, and tote bags. All sneakers are manufactured in Portugal using vegan corn napa leather, natural rubber, and recycled materials sourced from automotive and carpentry industries. The brand has gained recognition from British Vogue, Marie Claire, Vanity Fair, and GQ as a leading sustainable fashion label.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- M89 Icon: Iconic silhouette collection featuring the signature M89 model
- M26 Dawn
- M89 Ground
- M70 Muse
- M01 Atlas
- M70 Soul
- M82 Core
Quantifiable outcome
- 2 trees planted per pair of sneakers sold
Companies that use SAYE
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles1 record
SAYE technology and API
TechnologyAPI detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
SAYE partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Yosuke AmemiyaminorCollaboration with Japanese artist Yosuke Amemiya for sneaker design. The artist contributed to creating unique color designs where bold color accents are derived from apple waste, resulting in distinctive red accents on crisp white sneakers.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
SAYE competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Allbirds: Allbirds is a premium DTC sustainable footwear brand offering sneakers and lifestyle shoes made from natural materials like merino wool, eucalyptus, and sugarcane. It is the closest direct competitor to SAYE in sustainable casual sneakers with global DTC distribution and premium pricing.
- Veja: Veja is a French sustainable sneaker brand using fairly traded rubber and organic cotton, sold through DTC, wholesale, and select retailers. It is highly comparable to SAYE in materials ethos, retro silhouette design, and target eco-conscious consumer, but operates at significantly larger scale.
- Cariuma: Cariuma is a DTC sustainable sneaker brand focused on casual and skate-inspired silhouettes using natural rubber and recycled materials. Comparable to SAYE in vegan/sustainable positioning, premium pricing ($100-$150+), and tree-planting environmental programs.
- Thousand Fell: Thousand Fell is a sustainable sneaker brand emphasizing recyclable and circular footwear with take-back programs. Closely matches SAYE's recyclable construction narrative and DTC sustainable positioning.
Emerging players
- Nothing New: Nothing New produces sneakers made from recycled materials with a circular take-back program. Comparable to SAYE in circularity and sustainable materials narrative, though with a narrower product line and emerging US-centric distribution.
- Oliver Cabell: Oliver Cabell is a premium DTC sneaker brand offering minimalist casual sneakers at $200-$300 price points. Comparable to SAYE in premium pricing and DTC-only distribution, though focused on craftsmanship rather than sustainability.
- KOIO: KOIO is a premium DTC sneaker brand producing Italian-made casual sneakers with luxury design language. Comparable to SAYE in premium pricing tier and DTC-first distribution, though with a luxury rather than sustainability positioning.
- Atoms: Atoms is a DTC lifestyle sneaker brand offering minimalist casual sneakers with focus on fit and comfort. Comparable to SAYE in DTC model and casual lifestyle positioning, though without the sustainability differentiation.
Broad incumbents
- Adidas (Stan Smith / Originals): Adidas Originals (including Stan Smith, Samba, and sustainable lines like Adidas by Stella McCartney) competes in the casual lifestyle sneaker segment with broad global distribution. SAYE competes against Adidas on style and increasingly on sustainability as Adidas expands its recycled-material product lines.
- New Balance: New Balance is a global footwear incumbent expanding into lifestyle and sustainable sneakers with recycled-material lines. It competes with SAYE on casual silhouettes and is encroaching on the sustainable segment with greater scale and distribution reach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights5 records
Customer concentration
SAYE social profiles
Digital presenceSAYE financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
SAYE leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
SAYE funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
SAYE M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about SAYE
What does SAYE do?
SAYE designs, manufactures, and sells sustainable vegan sneakers through its own direct-to-consumer e-commerce site. Sneakers are produced in Portugal using vegan corn napa leather, natural rubber, and recycled materials from automotive and carpentry waste, with each pair triggering the planting of two trees. The portfolio spans eight silhouettes across men's, women's, and unisex categories, complemented by socks, shoe care, clothing, caps, and tote bags.
Is SAYE a public or private company?
SAYE is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was SAYE founded?
SAYE was founded in 2018. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is SAYE based?
SAYE is headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, in the Europe region.
How does SAYE make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Direct Sneaker Sales are the primary driver. The others are accessories.
Who are SAYE's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Allbirds, Veja, Cariuma and Thousand Fell. Emerging players are Nothing New, Oliver Cabell, KOIO and Atoms. Broad incumbents are Adidas (Stan Smith / Originals) and New Balance.
Does SAYE have an API?
No public API is recorded for SAYE.
What industry is SAYE in?
SAYE's product category is Sustainable Footwear. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAACAH, Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear, with a secondary code of CRAAACAB, Casual & Lifestyle Footwear. Its NAICS code is 45821 and its SIC code is 5661.