From professional football player to sustainable footwear entrepreneur, Tim Brown, Allbirds cofounder

Interesting interview with Tim Brown, Allbirds cofounder, ex-professional football player, and now sustainable footwear entrepreneur

What is your background briefly?

I was born in the UK, but I grew up in New Zealand. I left home at 18 to go to university in America on a football scholarship. This period nurtured a passion for design alongside the opportunity to play sport in the American collegiate system. After graduation I was lucky enough to have a nearly decade-long career playing largely in the Australian A-League and representing my country New Zealand in the 2010 World Cup in South Africa

While still playing football, I got an idea for a simple sneaker made from natural materials. Throughout my career I was sponsored by the big sportswear brands, and noticed all their shoes were over-designed, over-logoed, and made from not-very-nice synthetics. I realized there was a gap in the market for something simple made from something that was better for the environment.

Being from the land of 29 million sheep, I was familiar with the miraculous properties of merino wool and thought it could be perfect for footwear. Once I retired from football, I started seriously working on this idea. After toiling on my own for a few years, I joined forces with my co-founder, renewables expert Joey Zwillinger, and we went on to launch Allbirds in March 2016.

From professional football player to sustainable footwear entrepreneur, Tim Brown, Allbirds cofounder

Does it seem like a logical background to what you do now?

A professional football player turned sustainable footwear entrepreneur – definitely not the most obvious career path. My experience in sport helped me understand the opportunity for a simple, comfortable shoe, but it took years of research, testing, and refining before we were able to get it right. No matter what your background is, changing the way things are made – especially in an industry as old fashioned as footwear – is no easy task.

My nontraditional background helped me question the methods and materials typically used to make shoes. Simply put, If Joey and I had come from long careers in apparel and footwear it’s doubtful we would’ve done things so differently.

1 min pitch for what you are doing now?

Our mission at Allbirds is to make better things in a better way. We’re a carbon neutral brand that’s proving that products can be both better for the planet and better for consumers. Rather than relying on synthetics, we utilize regenerative natural materials like ZQ-certified merino wool, FSC-certified Eucalyptus fiber, and Proforest-certified sugarcane. We whole-heartedly believe that the private sector can be a force for positive change, and we’re dedicated to doing our part to usher in a new era of sustainable business.

Piling on the fall feels. Meet the Brisk Collection – inspired by the rich colors Mother Nature throws our way this time of year. They’re available now on the site + in stores! #weareallbirds pic.twitter.com/vWYQCBTgnp

— Allbirds (@Allbirds) October 15, 2019

Why did you get involved with Allbirds?

This all started as a curiosity project while I was still playing football professionally. I couldn’t get the idea for a simple wool sneaker out of my head, and started researching factories and developing prototypes as a hobby more than anything. I wasn’t entirely sure why I was so dedicated to this idea until I started working my co-founder Joey years later. Joey had been focused on sustainability and renewables for quite a while, and he helped me understand the larger environmental mission behind Allbirds.

Why do you think it is such a powerful idea?

Climate change is the problem of our generation, and businesses can either be the engine that solves it or continue to contribute to the problem. Consumers are starting to understand that businesses, especially those in the retail sector, have paid lip service to the idea of sustainability for too long, and are demanding serious action from the brands they engage with everyday. While we at Allbirds are far from perfect, we’re committed to working to make great, sustainable products and doing what we can to influence change in the fashion industry and beyond.

Start piling on the layers. Here’s a close-up of our newest colors of Trino™ socks! They’re available on the site + in stores today. #weareallbirds pic.twitter.com/idWhs3LzPc

— Allbirds (@Allbirds) October 22, 2019

Where is the plastic collected from that you use?

We work with a partner that collects post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, which we then use in our Trino™ fabric and shoe laces.

How can people find out more about you & your work?

Our website and social channels are fantastic platforms to discover and learn more about where our materials come from, how our products are made and how we’re continually improving our sustainability practices. If you also find yourself in one of the 13 cities around the world where we have a store (including NYC, London & Berlin), you should definitely chat with one of our knowledgeable retail associates about what we’re up to!

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