Men's Protopia · Sneaker uomo elegante in pelle

Protopia is available in distinct men’s and women’s models. Both share the same silhouette, design language, and materials and technologies, but the shoe’s shape is specifically engineered to the proportions and fit of the male and female foot. In this way, each version maintains Protopia’s aesthetic identity while offering a more precise fit and comfort.

Yes, Protopia is designed to combine an elegant silhouette with prolonged 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.

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

Yes. Protopia Uomo is designed for those seeking a stylish and contemporary sneaker without the technical appearance of an athletic shoe. The clean silhouette, ultra-soft Oleum® leather, and ergonomic cushioning system combine a refined aesthetic with prolonged comfort.

No, and that's part of its nature. Vegetable-tanned leather, plant-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.

Oleum® is the leather developed by Olyene through a patented vegetable tanning process that enhances by-products of olive oil production. It is ultra-soft to the touch, chrome-free, and designed to combine sensory quality, performance, and a more responsible end-of-life approach.

Yes. Oleum® leather is vegetable-tanned through a process that enhances olive oil 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.

Vegetable tanning allows leather to be processed without using chrome tanning and better preserves its natural character. The leather maintains a rich, sensory feel, develops a personal patina with use, and can be designed considering its end-of-life. In the case of Oleum®, the process also enhances by-products from olive oil production.

For us, sustainability depends on a material's entire life cycle, not the name it's presented under.

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

Many "eco-leathers" or bio-based alternatives contain plant-derived 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.

This is why we evaluate each material as a whole: origin, processing, performance, durability, and end-of-life behavior.

For Protopia, we have chosen traceable, deforestation-free leather, vegetable-tanned without chrome using the Oleum® process, because today it represents the best balance for us between quality, comfort, durability, and impact reduction.

Protopia colors come from vegetable dyes developed from plants selected and grown in Italy, particularly in the Aosta Valley. The color is then applied by hand to the leather, creating deep and naturally variable shades.

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

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 characteristics of resistance, comfort, and durability required of a sneaker.

Yes. Biodegradability and durability during use are two distinct aspects. The compound of Protopia's sole is designed to withstand normal stresses of use, while the biodegradation process is only triggered when specific composting conditions occur.

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, there is still a recycled nylon thread in the structural point that directly joins the upper and the sole, where today we have not yet found a natural alternative capable of guaranteeing the necessary performance.

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

Protopia's goal is to minimize the use of synthetic materials, prioritizing leather, cotton, silk, natural latex, 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 resistance is required.

“Made by Italy” goes beyond a simple place of production. Protopia comes 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.