Zèta x Café Joyeux Kids

Corn — A plant-based material designed to last

At Zèta, we don't select a material for what it appears to be, but for what it enables us to create. The corn we use is a solid plant-based alternative, suited for your shoes, every day.

A plant-based, yet highly technical material

The corn used in our styles does not come from the food industry. It is sourced from non-food crops, which avoids competing with production intended for human or animal consumption.

Once harvested, it is transformed through a clean process: dextrose extracted from corn is fermented, without petrochemicals, then transformed into a polymer. This polymer is then blended with a small quantity of PU to create a durable material with a clean, consistent appearance. The result: a reliable, vegan, and breathable upper.

Designed for regular use

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

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

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

A solid base for everyday trainers

Our Bêta, Alta, Velcro and Kids styles are built around this material. It offers good structure, withstands repeated friction, and holds its shape over time.

It is also breathable and pleasant to wear. A material that does exactly what is asked of it, without overreaching. That is often enough.

Your feet carry you, take care of them.

At Zèta, comfort isn't a detail; it's a starting point. Where many brands focus solely on style, we strive to combine aesthetics, ethics , and well-being at every stage of our sneakers' development.

Our styles are designed to fit naturally around your feet: flexible, lightweight, and breathable, they feel like slippers—and that's what over 90% of our customers say in their reviews. So it's not just us saying it, it's you.

The secret? We use Strobel construction, a high-end manufacturing technique that provides exceptional flexibility to the shoe. The result: natural cushioning, no feeling of stiffness, and unparalleled freedom of movement, even after hours of walking.

No more blisters and heavy legs: our sneakers accompany you everywhere, in the city as well as in the forest, from the first to the last step of the day.

Sneakers that last, without compromising on comfort.

Our materials are carefully selected to ensure they are comfortable to wear and durable. Before being launched, all our prototypes are tested at the CTCP (Footwear Technology Center in Portugal) for flexibility and abrasion tests. They are then tested in real-life conditions by our team and members of the Zèta club.

Each pair is hand-assembled by our Portuguese artisans and then undergoes rigorous quality control to ensure your comfort meets our standards – and yours.

Clothing workshop - Vizela, Portugal

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

It was at the age of 20 that Albano assembled his first pair of shoes, in the back of a garage.

His first pairs of shoes will then be sold in a few shops in the city and at the end of mass on Sundays. The shoes pleased with their quality and were quickly sold throughout the North of Portugal.

For more than thirty years, nearly 150 artisans have now perpetuated Portuguese craftsmanship by paying particular attention to details and finishes. They joined the adventure alongside us in 2022 and we have built very strong relationships over the months.

Labels

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