Vapour-permeable shoe

Nominated for the European Inventor Award 2012 in the category Lifetime achievement

Mario Polegato

Inventor: Mario Moretti Polegato

Country: Italy

Invention: Vapour-permeable shoe

Company: GEOX

Looking for a solution to a practical problem, Italian entrepreneur Mario Moretti Polegato set out to create the perfect breathable shoe which would let air in but keep water out. His invention, a waterproof, breathable sole for footgear, with a membrane of vapour-permeable and waterproof material, has revolutionised the footwear industry. And the company he founded in 1995, GEOX, is now one of the largest shoe manufacturers in the world.

Background information (PDF, 51 KB)

Nominee film

Interview