• Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia side view
  • Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia side view pair
  • Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia side view rear
  • Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia side top view
  • Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia side detail
  • Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia side detail
  • Women's elegant white sneaker Protopia dye bottle
  • Women's elegant pink sneaker Protopia side view
  • Women's elegant pink sneaker Protopia side view pair
  • Women's elegant pink sneaker Protopia side view rear
  • Women's elegant pink sneaker Protopia side top view
  • Women's elegant pink sneaker Protopia side detail
  • Women's elegant pink sneaker Protopia dye bottle
  • Women's elegant green sneaker Protopia side view
  • Women's elegant green sneaker Protopia side view rear
  • Women's elegant green sneaker Protopia side top view
  • Women's elegant green sneaker Protopia side detail
  • Women's elegant green sneaker Protopia dye bottle
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Protopia Donna · Sneaker donna elegante in pelle

Olyene

V0.1 · LOTTO 001 · HARVESTED SEPTEMBER 2025

An elegant, low-profile women’s leather sneaker with a sculptural silhouette, designed to combine elegance, softness and natural comfort. Made in Italy using Oleum® vegetable-tanned leather, plant-based dyes and ergonomic cushioning. Protopia reinterprets the women’s leather sneaker through flowing forms and natural materials.

€445,00 EUR

Color — Bianco Oleum

Free shipping on orders over €500

Return shipping costs are the buyer’s responsibility
Pelle Oleum® ultra soft
Vegetable dyes
Ergonomic comfort
Made by Italy

Protopia Donna · Sneaker donna elegante in pelle

V0.1 · LOTTO 001 · HARVESTED SEPTEMBER 2025

An elegant, low-profile women’s leather sneaker with a sculptural silhouette, designed to combine elegance, softness and natural comfort. Made in Italy using Oleum® vegetable-tanned leather, plant-based dyes and ergonomic cushioning. Protopia reinterprets the women’s leather sneaker through flowing forms and natural materials.

Protopia Donna · Sneaker donna elegante in pelle

Key Features

  • Ultra-soft Oleum® Leather — vegetable-tanned using a process that reuses olive production by-products.
  • Plant-based dyes — for deep, vibrant, and naturally variable colors.
  • Ergonomic comfort — patented midsole designed to offer cushioning, stability, and support.
  • Traceable materials — selected for quality, performance, and reduced impact.
  • Artisanal construction — natural silk stitching, with recycled nylon used exclusively at the structural point where the upper and sole meet.
  • Made by Italy — design, research, materials, and manufacturing through a network of Italian expertise.

Materials and Composition

Upper

  • Vegetable-tanned Oleum® leather, ultra-soft to the touch and developed with the compostability of the upper in mind.
  • Hand-dyed with natural vegetable dyes.
  • Upcycled lanolin protective finish.

Lining and internal structure

  • Soft lining made of GOTS-certified organic cotton terry.
  • Support reinforcements made with renewable fibers, Tencel™, natural latex, and upcycled vegetable fibers.

Insole and midsole

  • Patented glue-free stitched insole construction, made with natural latex, corn, kenaf, and upcycled wood fibers.

Sole

  • Vulcanized rubber compound designed to ensure comfort and durability over time, with responsible end-of-life management.
  • Enzyme-activated biodegradability, only triggered under specific composting conditions.

Laces

  • Exclusive laces without aglets, made from 100% GOTS-certified raw cotton, with stitched ends instead of plastic tips.

Stitching and construction

  • Upper assembled with proprietary braided natural silk thread.
  • Solvent-free adhesives, water-based and organic starch-based.
  • Recycled nylon thread used exclusively for the direct stitching that joins the upper and sole.

Oleum® Leather

Oleum® leather is created using a patented vegetable tanning process that reuses wastewater generated from olive oil production. It is processed without chromium, toxic heavy metals, and harmful tanning agents.

Naturally rich in oils, it retains an exceptionally soft, elastic, and enveloping feel. With use, its color deepens, it becomes even softer, and it develops a personal patina.

A vegetable-tanned leather that changes over time, making each Protopia unique.

Vegetable dye batch

Protopia's shades are derived from plant-based dyes. Climate, soil, harvest, and season naturally contribute to the final result.

For this reason, the color is not perfectly standardized. Small variations in tone, depth, and texture make each pair slightly different.

Nature does not repeat itself. And that's precisely what makes it unique.

Comfort you feel from the first step

Protopia is designed to be a comfortable women's sneaker without sacrificing an elegant silhouette. Ultra-soft leather, a breathable lining, and an ergonomic structure work together to create a snug and natural feel.

Natural Softness
Soft and supple Oleum® leather and a cotton lining create a plush and delicate feel against the foot.

Ergonomic Cushioning
The patented midsole combines natural latex, corn, kenaf, and wood fibers to offer cushioning, stability, and support.

Flexibility and Durability
The construction follows the natural movement of the foot, while the upper stitched directly to the sole increases durability in areas of high stress.

Made in Italy

Protopia is Made in Italy, but not simply produced in Italy. Protopia is created through Italy, it is Made by Italy.

Protopia unites territories, research, and Italian manufacturing. Designers, chemists, farmers, researchers, and artisans participate in a single project: to create a contemporary sneaker where quality, desirability, and responsibility arise from the same process.

Made by Italy™ is not merely an origin. It is the way Protopia is conceived and crafted.

A living product

Every Protopia is unique from the start.

Vegetable-tanned leather, natural dyes, and hand-applied finishes create slight variations in color, texture, and depth.

Then a second transformation begins: yours. The leather softens around your foot, develops a richer patina, and slowly changes with use.

These are not imperfections. They are signs of life.

Care and End of Life

Responsibly recycle the packaging.

Store away from direct sunlight, which can cause slight discoloration and fade the intensity of the color.

Do not machine wash or tumble dry.

Hand wash with a soft sponge, using room temperature water and a mild, neutral soap, preferably Marseille soap, which is ideal for this type of treatment.

At the end of its useful life, we encourage reselling or donating this product. When it can no longer be worn, the upper can be removed and composted, allowing the material to naturally return to the earth.

The last thread

There is one choice we haven't fully resolved yet.

At the point of greatest stress, where the upper is sewn directly to the sole, we still use recycled nylon thread. Today, natural silk does not guarantee the necessary strength at this critical point.

We don't hide it. We consider it the next problem to solve.

SENSORY ELEGANCE

Distinctive Look

Every shoe bears the mark of the hand that made it. Here, perfection isn't uniformity, it's truth.

  • A sculptural sneaker shaped by nature, with fluid curves, overlapping panels, and an organic silhouette that feels both familiar and unmistakably original.

  • Refined silk stitching reveals meticulous attention to detail, combining precious natural materials and Italian artisanal craftsmanship.

  • The shoe's natural ingredients are hot-stamped onto the tongue, making its material history an integral part of the design.

  • A biodegradable, bark-inspired sole combines natural texture, ergonomic cushioning, and supportive comfort in a distinctive sculptural form.

SENSORY ELEGANCE

Impeccable Taste

A refined expression of style, authenticity and confidence, for those who know the difference.

SENSORY ELEGANCE

Pure Scent

Vegetable dyes and chrome-free tanning preserve the natural character of the leather, leaving a clean and delicate fragrance. A purer process, designed to enhance the material, the feel, and the authentic beauty of the color.

  • Nature in Color

    Protopia's shades are derived from plant-based dyes, developed to preserve the natural character of the leather and create deep, vibrant, and naturally variable colours.

  • Grown in Aosta Valley

    The plants used to create the colors are mainly grown and harvested in Valle d'Aosta, in an area where nature, agriculture, and artisanal knowledge coexist.

  • Bianco 9

    Hand-applied

    The color is applied manually to the leather, layer by layer. The artisan's touch creates depth, nuances, and slight variations that make each shoe unique.

  • Perfected Over Time

    Years of research and experimentation have allowed us to develop intense and durable colors, capable of lasting and, at the same time, evolving with use. Each shade gains character and tells a different story.

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SENSORY ELEGANCE

Softest Touch

Oleum® leather is vegetable-tanned using a process that revalues by-products of olive oil production. Naturally rich in oils, it retains an exceptionally soft, supple, and enveloping feel, which becomes even more personal over time.

  • Better from every point of view

    For Olyene, sustainability does not mean sacrificing style, comfort, or performance. Every material and construction choice is designed to reduce impact and, at the same time, enhance the product experience: aesthetics, sensory qualities, comfort, and durability.

    Discover our approach to sustainability

  • Comfort

    Ultra-soft leather, a breathable lining, and ergonomic cushioning create a natural, embracing feel from the very first step. Comfort designed not only to support the foot but to enhance the pleasure of wearing them.

  • Quality and durability

    Oleum® leather maintains its natural softness and develops character with use. Stitching replaces adhesives in construction points, while the shoe undergoes laboratory and flex tests to verify its resistance. The biodegradability of the sole does not compromise its use: the process is activated only under specific composting conditions.

  • Style and Aesthetics

    Olyene proves that sustainable design doesn't have to be anonymous. Nature-inspired shapes, distinctive materials, and natural colors create a unique and recognizable aesthetic. Over time, the leather gains character, making each pair even more personal.

  • Sustainability

    Olyéne combines innovation, traceable, renewable, and upcycled materials with a design approach that considers the entire lifecycle of the shoe. The goal is to progressively reduce what is unnecessary, increase what adds value to the product, and leave an increasingly positive footprint.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Is Protopia a comfortable sneaker to wear all day?

Yes, Protopia is designed to combine an elegant silhouette with long-lasting comfort. The ultra-soft Oleum® leather, cotton lining, and ergonomic midsole work together to provide cushioning, stability, and support, accompanying the natural movement of the foot.

How does Protopia fit?

Protopia is designed to offer a snug and comfortable fit. The Oleum® leather is particularly soft and elastic and tends to progressively adapt to the foot with use.

Are every pair of Protopia identical?

No, and that's part of its nature. Vegetable-tanned leather, vegetable-based dyes, and hand-applied finishes can create slight variations in color, texture, and depth. Over time, personal use also changes the leather and its patina, making each pair even more unique.

What is Oleum® leather?

Oleum® is the leather developed by Olyene through a patented vegetable tanning process that utilizes by-products of olive oil production. It is ultra-soft to the touch, processed without chromium, and designed to combine sensory quality, performance, and a more responsible end-of-life approach.

Is Oleum® leather vegetable tanned?

Yes. Oleum® leather is vegetable-tanned through a process that enhances olive production by-products, avoiding the use of chromium in tanning. The process also helps preserve the natural character, softness, and ability of the leather to evolve over time.

What are the benefits of vegetable-tanned leather?

Vegetable tanning allows leather to be processed without resorting to chrome tanning and better preserves its natural character. The leather retains a rich and sensorial feel, develops a unique patina with use, and can be designed with its end-of-life in mind. In the case of Oleum®, the process also enhances olive oil production by-products.

Is leather sustainable? Wouldn't an "eco-leather" alternative be better?

For us, sustainability depends on a material’s entire life cycle, not the name it is given.

The leather we use is a by-product of the food industry: as long as this industry continues to exist, we believe it makes sense to transform a potential waste product into a durable, useful, high-quality material. If this industry no longer existed in the future, we would work with different materials.

Many "eco-leathers" or bio-based alternatives contain plant-based components, but often also require plastic coatings or backings to achieve the necessary performance, with possible limitations in terms of durability, comfort, and end-of-life.

For this reason, we evaluate each material as a whole: origin, transformation, performance, durability, and end-of-life behavior.

For Protopia, we chose traceable, deforestation-free, vegetable-tanned, chromium-free leather using the Oleum® process, because today it represents the best balance of quality, comfort, durability, and impact reduction for us.

From what are Protopia's colors obtained?

Protopia's colours come from vegetable dyes developed from selected plants grown in Italy, specifically in the Aosta Valley. The colour is then applied by hand to the leather, creating deep and naturally varying shades.

Do vegetable dyes change over time?

Yes, the color can naturally evolve along with the leather. The formulations are studied and refined to offer durability and performance, while maintaining the lively character of vegetable dyes. Small initial variations and gradual changes with use are part of the product's identity.

Does the biodegradable sole degrade while I'm wearing the shoe?

No. The biodegradability of the sole is designed to activate only under specific composting conditions. During normal use, the sole is designed to maintain the resistance, comfort, and durability characteristics required of a sneaker.

Is a biodegradable sole also resistant and durable?

Yes. Biodegradability and durability during use are two distinct aspects. The Protopia sole compound is designed to withstand normal wear and tear, while the biodegradation process is only triggered under specific composting conditions.

Is Protopia fully biodegradable or compostable?

Not yet completely, and we prefer to be transparent on this point. The upper is designed with compostability in mind, and the sole uses a biodegradation technology activated under specific composting conditions. However, a recycled nylon thread remains at the structural point directly connecting the upper and the sole, where we have not yet identified a natural alternative that can guarantee the necessary performance.

It is one of the elements we continue to work on.

Does Protopia contain synthetic materials?

Protopia's goal is to minimize the use of synthetic materials by prioritizing leather, cotton, silk, natural rubber, and renewable and upcycled plant fibers. A limited amount of recycled nylon remains, used exclusively in the structural stitching that joins the upper to the sole, where particular mechanical strength is required.

What does “Made by Italy” mean?

“Made by Italy” goes beyond the simple place of production. Protopia stems from an Italian network of expertise that involves design, research, material development, specialized processing, and manufacturing. It is the result of different territories, people, and knowledge collaborating to create a single product.
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