Launched in 2020, Virón is a protest against the footwear industry and the brainchild of two established names. Belgium-born, Paris-based designer Matt Rombaut is known for his eponymous label, beloved equally for its conceptual ugly shoe hybrids, irreverent campaigns and progressive use of plant-based textiles. Virón is his latest venture with Julian Romer (who’s had an equally successful career in sales and buying) and the pair are producing eco-conscious footwear from corn and apples, as well as up-cycled materials like army tents and recycled cotton. Their mission is to make sustainability more accessible.