Koio

Koio, a luxury shoe startup, was formed to bring Italian leather shoe craftsmanship to the American market. The company designs its shoes internally and produces them in Italy, sharing a factory with Chanel. On average, Koio's shoes are priced at ~$250.

Since 2014, it has worked toward sustainability and, in April 2023, the 99% biodegradable Mello sneaker was launched, sourcing leather from non-industrial farms in Switzerland and using vegetable dye in the tanning process. Additionally, the soles of Koio shoes are made from Forest Stewardship Council-certified and recycled rubbers. Koio has also expanded its offerings to include a growing collection of carbon-neutral shoes, crafted using leathers sourced from regenerative farms in the Swiss Alps. By prioritizing regenerative farming practices, Koio manages to save 43.75 lbs of carbon emissions for every pair of shoes produced.

The company uses a direct-to-consumer approach to bring its shoes to market. 60% of Koio's direct sales are generated online, while the remaining 40% are made through physical retail stores. Approximately 10% of its total sales come from collaborating with other retailers, such as J.Crew's Madewell and Nordstroms. In 2019, Koio had six stores located in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, and Miami.

Further, in May 2023, the company launched a new vegan shoe line called “Pale Blue Dot,” which was a cheaper alternative to its leather shoes, with pairs priced at USD 165.

The Pale Blue Dot line features sneakers with uppers made from apple leather, recycled rubber soles, and cork insoles. They are available in four colors, come in men's and women's sizes, and are purchasable on the company website and in its stores in New York and Los Angeles.

As of May 2023, Koio reported that it aims to source all of its materials from regenerative farms by 2025 and is committed to further innovation, with the development of a fully biodegradable and regeneratively-sourced shoe in the future.

Funding and financials

In October 2019, the company raised USD 6 million in Series A funding, bringing its total Series A funds to USD 9 million. The round was led by Founders Fund.