US-based material innovation brand von Holzhausen has unveiled The Ripple Shoe, a high-performance sneaker made without petroleum.
The Ripple Shoe is the first footwear made from Liquidplant™, a material developed in-house by von Holzhausen. Created using renewable inputs such as sugar and seeds, the material is said to have the technical performance of premium polyurethane but is plastic-free. It is also biodegradable, recyclable, and entirely plant-based.
According to von Holzhausen, Liquidplant™ fits into existing manufacturing pipelines and provides the durability and density required for commercial use.
“More than a product”
Von Holzhausen’s mission is to replace plastic and leather with plants. The brand has previously focused on direct-to-consumer accessories, but is now shifting toward scalable, enterprise-ready material innovation for fashion, tech, and automotive.
Liquidplant™ was first introduced in 2023 as a plastic-free topcoat to replace polyurethane in a range of materials, including traditional and synthetic leather, paper, wood, plastic, and fabric. But with the Ripple Shoe, von Holzhausen demonstrates Liquidplant’s versatility as a material in its own right.
“The Ripple Shoe is more than a product,” says the company. “It’s the first case study in a new strategic direction for von Holzhausen. A broader rollout of case studies begins in 2025, showcasing the impact and versatility of Liquidplant™ across industries.”
