We are incredibly excited to have captured both international and national acclaim just six months after launching the Orba Ghost. Winning two awards for sustainability endorses our unique world-first approach to design and sustainability.

Our Ghost sneaker took out the Sustainability category at the Global Footwear Awards and the Sustainable Product Design category at the Design Institute of NZ Best Design Awards, with judges commenting on the start-up’s “remarkable” and “outstanding” work.

The Global Footwear Awards recognise the world’s most exceptional footwear designs, with the Sustainability category evaluating creativity, design and innovation. It is judged by 15 industry professionals from brands and publications like Vogue, Adidas, Vera Wang, Hugo Boss, Prada, GQ, and the MIT Institute of Design.

We were particularly pleased that the judges of the Global Footwear awards recognised Orba’s end-to-end lifecycle for consumers – once a person has finished wearing their shoes they can return them to us at our cost, and we take full responsibility for their end of the life, ensuring they return to nature.

Find out more about the Global Footwear Awards here.

Orba also took out the Sustainable Product Design Category at the NZ Best Design Awards, an annual showcase of Kiwi excellence in graphic, spatial, product, digital and motion design, judged by respected design professionals.

Judges Comments:
“Compelling sustainable credentials combined with stylish design convinced the judges and impressed them with the thoroughness and effort taken to achieve the goal of world-first mass-produced biodegradable shoe.”

Find out more on the Best Design Awards site here.