GILLIAN BOUCHER ORBA SHOES

For Orba's co-founder, Gillian Boucher, footwear is a necessity of daily life that is largely overlooked when discussing the environmental impact of the processes and materials used in fashion production. Each year nearly 25 billion shoes are produced, made from plastics, synthetics, and petroleum-based rubbers – materials that last in landfill for up to thousands of years and pollute and water environments with microplastics.

Orba was created to combat this gap in the footwear market. With the intention of sustainability and, as Boucher explained, a desire to set a new benchmark for what is possible when selecting and curating materials for footwear. Initially founded by Marshall Westlake, the “grandfather” of the Indonesian footwear industry, and Kapiti-based entrepreneur Greg Howard, Boucher came on board in mid-2020 as co-founder and sustainability advisor. After years of development, sourcing materials and components that meet their criteria of low-impact and plantbased materials, the Orba “Ghost” was released in September 2021 to the New Zealand market. Boucher was inspired to create the Orba “Ghost” by adopting a minimalist design philosophy reminiscent of early court-style sneakers, focusing on highlighting the flax canvas material they had developed. Orba has also created a bespoke bio-sole made from natural rubber, rice husk ash, soybean wax, and pine tree resin – plant-based and highperformance.

“The Ghost is a nod to those timeless silhouettes but re-imagined with plantbased materials,” described Boucher.

Before selling their first pair of shoes, Orba committed to investing in smaller suppliers in order to grow their production while keeping the methods of manufacturing traditional and ethical. Initially, two of their suppliers were “uncertified” simply because they could not afford the accreditation required to recognise their already organic and ethical production. In working with these small Balinese suppliers, Orba was able to help them grow more sustainably and efficiently on a pathway to future certification.

Orba has already become recognised in their field, winning a Global Footwear Award in 2021. Two months later, they won the Sustainable Product Design Award at the Design Institute of NZ Best Design Awards.

“These awards and Orba’s B Corp certification endorse the unique worldfirst approach to design and sustainability that Orba delivers,” explained Boucher.

Undoubtedly on the up-and-up, Boucher explained Orba’s next plans are to prove, improve, and grow the product and the revenues in the New Zealand market. They plan to launch a range of colours using toxic-free plant-based dyes and some new styles internationally, taking pre-orders for a very small deposit. This allows Orba to sustainably grow its range while avoiding the waste that results from inventory forecasting risks.