VYN Inside The first Repairable Sneaker in the World

Today I wanted to throw a light on a brand that's been on my radar for the past few years, VYN the first repairable sneaker in the world. A relatively young brand founded in 2019 with an intent on subtracting disposable mind-sets in consumer behaviour. VYN first appeared on my radar after listening to the co-founder Stefan speak on the Menswear Style podcast about he and his co-founder Catherine wanted to answer a burning question: ‘how do you create a sneaker that is made to last?’ Their focus drills down on a repair-solution for the sole unit.

VYN is the brainchild of Swiss Designers Catherine Meuter and Stefan Mathys and the sneaker is a result of 3 years of research and development. Utilising their combined wealth of over 25 years of international experience (Giorgio Armani, Harrys of London, SWIMS, Reiss) they achieved proof of concept of the first self-repairable sneakers in the world.

The most vulnerable parts of sneakers (heel piece and heel counter) are engineered and constructed in a unique new way, to become repairable and replaceable by the owners themselves. This allows for a three times longer lifespan, but also becomes a personal style feature that allows personalisation by the owner. The interplay of longevity and personalisation on a single pair of sneakers creates a value shift that follows the belief of the founders in buying less but better products.

The price of the sneaker starts at £370, and replaceable heel sets in 4 different colour ways come in at £44 each. The sneakers themselves are sleek, streamlined and minimalist. The sneakers are hand-crafted by Italian artisans to guarantee the highest quality, fair labour practices and to keep their C02 footprint low.

VYN are adding longevity to our Sneakers through timeless design, quality materials, craftsmanship and eco-innovation. Their customers discover an active and emotional long-term relationship with their sneakers through our Wear-Care-Repair system.