Our mission
Less waste. More appreciation.
Thinking and acting in cycles is deeply rooted in NEUNOI's DNA. We're convinced that a product can be designed sustainably and still look good. And that in a field shaped by constant change: millions of shoes are thrown out every year, even though much of their lifespan is still ahead of them.
Visible repair as proof, not as a claim.
The shift to a circular economy in which no more resources are wasted is essential. Our sneakers are meant to be worn, repaired and passed on. Not as a perfect end goal, but as a concrete step towards a more mindful way of using resources, materials and products. Signs of wear aren't flaws. They show an attitude.
Designed to be repaired.
For us, sustainability begins with the product's design. The sneakers are built so they can easily be repaired, passed on and worn again.
The people behind NEUNOI
We are Narada Zürrer (industrial designer and founder of NEUNOI), Andrina Schmid (BOMBYX MORI branding agency) and Robin Hedinger (UX & web designer).
And we share an attitude: sustainability isn't a marketing strategy, it's a matter of character. And we'd rather be appreciative than reckless.
Sustainability comes from how a product is built, not just how it looks.
With children, not for children.
Before developing the first prototype, we asked children what makes a shoe interesting to them. What do they like? And what's missing? The first designs were created not on a computer, but on paper: in the form of colourful sketches, big visions and serious conversations. Many ideas from these workshops accompany NEUNOI to this day. Because whoever designs for children should first listen to them.
NEUNOI in the media
From SRF to Galaxus and in the national museum...
What began as a bachelor's project at the Zurich University of the Arts developed step by step: children's workshops, first prototypes, tests with families, material research, exhibitions, media reports, new partnerships and finally the first production. Every step has shown us how complex a seemingly simple children's shoe can be. And how much potential it still holds.
We're still finding our feet.
A cycle doesn't happen on paper, but in real life. Only after the first production will the really exciting questions arise:
What does it take for the shoes to actually be sent back? How do they look after the first and second repair round? Will they find a third or fourth home? We don't know yet. And that's exactly what we want to find out together with you children and families.
Iron-on beetle patches
In nature there is no waste. Everything is passed on, transformed and becomes part of a new cycle. Our four NEUNOI beetles accompany children from adventure to adventure and pass on a joy for nature and circular thinking along the way.
FAQ
Has your NEUNOI become too small? Then we'd love for you to send it back to us! Because we have a vision: one day, only old, repaired NEUNOIs should be up for sale. Made to be repaired: for us, sustainability starts with the product's design. NEUNOIs are made from surplus materials and built so they can easily be repaired, passed on and worn again. By sending yours back to us, you give a sneaker a second life.
As things stand, every NEUNOI that's ordered is still unworn. To reach our goal of one day selling only pre-worn sneakers, we're currently collecting as many old NEUNOIs as possible. We repair them and – once enough sneakers have been gathered – put them back up for sale.
You can start your trade-in in two ways: 1. Scan the QR code on the tongue of your old sneaker and follow the instructions. 2. Select the next size up of your chosen model, click the “Send in old sneaker” button and follow the instructions on our site.
NEUNOI sneakers are designed so that individual parts can be swapped out easily. That way the whole shoe doesn't have to be replaced – only what needs fixing gets fixed. First, the sneakers are sorted into categories by how much repair they need. The refurbishment then happens systematically and in larger batches, so work steps can be sensibly combined.
NEUNOI was developed in Zurich, Switzerland. The sneakers are produced in Portugal, near Porto.
If the sneakers belong to the same series and the same colorway, they all look exactly alike. Differences can arise in re-production and will arise in individual repairs. They show that we work with local, existing materials and give every sneaker a one-of-a-kind look.
We only work with surplus materials that already exist and in comparatively small batches. Once a material is used up, the corresponding colour series ends too. Luckily the inventory we have access to is enormous and far from exhausted, so we can still make plenty of new, exciting colour combinations from it!
Our beetles are meant to bring children joy and spark the urge to discover nature's little wonders in a playful way. For their size, beetles are incredibly strong! Each of them is a specialist in its field and part of a huge ecosystem that has been regenerating itself for thousands of years. Our Blauschurf, for example, gathers organic remains and returns them to the soil. There they become new energy for plants and life.