Defne Yalkut
With over 20 years of experience in the footwear industry, Defne Yalkut brings together deep technical expertise and a passion for sustainability. As the founder of DYdesign, a Milan-based studio specializing in design and trend consultancy for athletic and technical footwear, she has worked across all performance segments — including 12 years as a senior designer at Vibram. But her mission goes beyond innovative product creation: through her Sole Design Academy, Defne empowers the next generation of footwear professionals to rethink sole design with a sustainable mindset. In this interview, she shares her insights on circularity, materials innovation, and why it’s time to rethink the way we create soles — and shoes.
Interview with Defne Yalkut
“The biggest challenge is human greed.”
PERFORMANCE DAYS is excited to announce an expanded Footwear Area at the upcoming Fall 2025 edition in Munich, placing a stronger spotlight on sole design, material innovation, and sustainable development in the footwear sector. As part of this new focus, we are thrilled to welcome Defne Yalkut – founder of DYdesign and Sole Design Academy – who will lead two insightful sessions: Smarter Soles, Smaller Footprints – Seminar and Eco-Sole Challenge: Rethink, Reuse, Recreate – Interactive Workshop. Through her deep industry knowledge and passion for sustainable design, Defne will offer both inspiration and practical tools to help participants rethink impact in footwear development.
Have a look at the following interview with Defne.
Defne, what can participants expect from your seminar “Smarter Soles, Smaller Footprints”? Why is sustainable sole design such a timely and important topic?
Defne Yalkut: “Participants will gain insight into the full journey from materials to manufacturing — understanding how to make soles as sustainable as possible. The sole is not only the largest component of a shoe but also the most complex and the one with the greatest environmental impact. The sole industry faces numerous challenges, from raw material sourcing to mold production. It's time to bring more awareness and smarter solutions to this essential element of footwear.”
Your workshop “Eco-Sole Challenge: Rethink, Reuse, Recreate” sounds highly interactive. Can you share what the hands-on experience will look like and what key takeaways attendees can expect?
Defne Yalkut: “After exploring strategies to reduce environmental impact in sole design, participants will use a “sustainability map” of materials and production steps to rethink and redesign some of the most unsustainable sole examples — all on paper. They’ll work with sustainability kits that include various material and concept components. We'll share the results on-screen, open up the conversation, and give feedback. Attendees will leave with a clear, practical guide on how to reduce the footprint of their soles while still being creative.”
In your opinion, what are the most effective levers right now to combine sustainability and high performance in footwear and sole design?
Defne Yalkut: “Using biodegradable materials is a strong starting point, but we also need to reduce the number of sole models in collections. A single sole can be designed to work across multiple uppers — this helps reduce mold production. We should avoid unnecessary plastic parts and aim for smarter designs with fewer components overall.”
How are alternative materials and emerging technologies shaping the future of the footwear industry — and which developments are you most excited about right now?
Defne Yalkut: “I'm particularly excited about bio-based and biodegradable materials. They offer huge potential for the future — although they are still relatively expensive, they’re moving us in the right direction.”
You’re not only a designer but also an educator. Why is it so important for you to raise awareness around sustainable design thinking among the next generation of footwear professionals?
Defne Yalkut: “I’m encouraged to see that Gen Z is already much more conscious of environmental issues. They value eco-sustainability more deeply than previous generations — who, quite frankly, contributed heavily to the problems we face today across industries. Raising awareness among the next generation is crucial because they’re not only the future professionals but also the future consumers — and they’re increasingly demanding more responsible products.”
Where do you see the biggest challenges — but also the most promising opportunities — for implementing circular design in footwear?
Defne Yalkut: “The biggest challenge is human greed — the drive to produce for less and sell for more. I’m not a circularity expert, but I believe real circular design requires a consumer base that genuinely cares and is willing to support sustainable products. Unfortunately, most consumers still prioritize low prices. It’s a vicious cycle. The opportunity lies in shifting consumer behavior and proving that circularity can be both feasible and desirable.”
If you could send one key message to the footwear industry, what would it be?
Defne Yalkut: “We don’t need thousands of styles, colors, and limited editions. Let’s focus on producing less, producing smarter — and creating less waste.”
