Nature.
Most ideas and inventions come from daily observations of nature. Here’s a bit of a cheesy example, but it sticks out in my head and I always find myself coming back to it: I saw a video once of a lion walking in slow motion coming towards the camera.
You can really see how his stride is almost similar to a human in that his foot goes into plantar flexion when stepping off the ground and dorsal flexion before landing.
The pads on the bottom of his paws act as individual cushioning elements, which cushion his vertical and horizontal forces.

Our shoe sole functions the same way and mirrors a lot of the traits and benefits of walking barefoot on a semi-soft service. We’re always trying to mimic nature; get back to the core of how humans are meant to perform.
We see this today in nutrition, sports & fitness, lifestyle, environment & eco-research, and much more. It’s all around us and influences every aspect of our lives.

Functional Fashion.

I was working for a running shoe company at the time and started feeling this need to combine functional footwear with fashion. I didn’t always want to wear running shoes because I don’t think they’re particularly classy or stylish when not doing sports.

I also strive to live a healthy lifestyle, and the health shoes on the market were just an absolute no-go for me. GNL Footwear was basically born out of need to fulfill something that I couldn’t find anywhere: healthy, functional and fashionable footwear.

That’s a really difficult question. I have lots of GNLs in my closet, but I’d have to say the one that I currently have on the most is either the LU1 Stracciatella or LM1 Thistle Fog, which looks awesome with jeans and goes with pretty much anything. I get a lot of compliments on those as well.

What makes our shoes truly special is our unique world-wide patented sole tech. If you look at most Kenyan runners (the guys and girls who run to school barefoot and go on to become incredible, almost super human marathon runners), their muscles and joints are far better developed than those of most westerners who have grown up with their feet trapped in shoes with too much support.
The problem is, our feet are degenerated. 80% of people passed the age of 21 have some sort of problem with their feet. This can lead to serious health issues and have long-term negative effects on our bodies. Look at how many people in our society need foot orthotics, inserts, even need to go through excruciating and painful operations to fix these issues.
We need to walk the way nature intended it, build those intrinsic muscles back up, which in tern improves the way we walk, improves our posture, gives us more strength and endurance, and improves the way we feel and function.

I’d like to quote our designer Manuela Menzi on this one: “Whatever you want!
The shoes are perfect for almost every daily situation and you can combine it with your own personal style, no matter if your style is more sportive or casual, if you’re a fashion victim or a health freak.”

A shoe with a timeless design is always in trend. For example, take a look at Common Projects; their timeless design and high quality makes them stand out despite their understated appearance.

I’d be on an island running my own tiki bar, where I’d serve cocktails as well as healthy alternatives. I’d definitely need to get back to the city every now and then to tank up on some city vibes. That’s what I like to think, but who knows.

Sometimes I can convince myself to go for a run early in the morning before work.
After that if I have enough time I like to sit and enjoy my coffee during sunrise. Somehow that can be an inspiring part of the day for me.