Barefoot Bêta B2 Beige

What is a barefoot shoe?

Barefoot footwear, also known as minimalist footwear, is based on a simple idea: giving your feet more freedom inside your shoes.

You can recognise a barefoot shoe by three key features:

• A wide toe box: giving your toes room to spread and move naturally.
• A thin, flexible sole: one that moves with your foot and lets you feel every step.
• Zero drop: the heel and forefoot are at the same height.

In other words, rather than forcing your foot to fit the shape of the shoe, the shoe is designed to adapt fully to your foot’s natural movements.

What if our feet could rediscover their freedom?

Corn — A plant-based material designed to last

At Zèta, we do not choose a material for how it looks, but for what it delivers. The corn we use is a solid, plant-based alternative suited for your everyday footwear.

A plant-based yet technical material

The corn used in our models does not come from the agri-food industry. It comes from non-food crops, avoiding competition with crops grown for human or animal consumption.

Once harvested, it is processed using a clean method: the dextrose extracted from the corn is fermented without petrochemicals, then transformed into a polymer. This polymer is then blended with a small amount of PU to create a durable material with a clean, smooth finish. Result: a reliable, vegan and breathable upper.

Designed for regular wear

The corn-based material contains 73% Bio-based PU and 27% recycled polyester. Its plant-based content reaches 50%, a threshold rarely crossed in the sneaker world.

Developed in Milan, the material is certified by several independent organisations:

PETA, Animal Free, USDA (organic certification), FSC®, ISO 14001, ISO 9001, ISO 45001.

A solid foundation for everyday trainers

Our Bêta, Alta, Velcro and Kids models are built around this material. It offers good support, withstands repeated friction, and keeps its shape over time.

It is also breathable and comfortable to wear. A material that does exactly what is asked of it, without overdoing it. It is often all you need.

Manufacturing workshop - Vizela, Portugal

We are proud to collaborate with partners who share our values and are just as committed as we are, both environmentally and socially.

At the age of 20, Albano assembled his very first pair of shoes in the back of a garage. 

His first pairs of shoes were then sold in a few local shops and after Sunday mass. The shoes proved popular thanks to their quality and were quickly sold all across northern Portugal.

For over thirty years, nearly 150 artisans have been keeping Portuguese craftsmanship alive with meticulous attention to detail and finishes. They joined our journey in 2022, and over the months we have forged very strong relationships.

Certifications

	ISO 14001 | Environmental management systems
	ISO 9001 | Quality management
	SMETA | Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit