Darla-Jane Gilroy: the Global Footwear Future Coalition (GFFC) is uniting the industry

Founded by Darla-Jane Gilroy, a designer, academic and author with deep industry ties, the Global Footwear Future Coalition (GFFC) emerged in response to growing concerns about the sustainability challenges facing the footwear industry. “Due to the unique complexity of shoes, the footwear industry has been slower to respond to such challenges”, notes Gilroy. With global production exceeding 24 billion pairs annually, there is a need for systemic reform.

“As a designer, academic and author, I have been deeply involved with the industry for many years”, shares the Founder. Through extensive conversations with brands, manufacturers, educators and policymakers, Gilroy identified a widespread desire for meaningful change that goes beyond superficial commitments. Her vision was to build a collective space where stakeholders could explore long-term solutions.

“Brands such as Allbirds, Veja, Ecco, Vivobarefoot and TOMS are actively leading sustainable thinking to embed good practice across the footwear value chain”, points Gilroy. However, "individual efforts alone are not enough to counterbalance the industry’s scale and complexity". This is why “it is important that the GFFC is a pre-competitive, academically led space, where stakeholders can openly share good practices and honestly discuss issues and future opportunities together”.

To address these challenges, the coalition is focusing on four key areas: education, design innovation, business transformation and cultural sustainability. “One of the core inspirations behind GFFC is the growing fragmentation within the (footwear) industry. The industry is losing its traditional expertise and heritage skills, partly due to outsourcing, the lack of specialist footwear education and the undervaluing of specialist expertise”, shares Gilroy.

The GFFC seeks to revitalise knowledge transfer through school programmes, higher education partnerships and professional development. Industry cohesion is equally vital to understand the “root causes of complex and systematic challenges and their implications for the industry’s future”, notes the Founder. The coalition provides a “much-needed” platform for collaboration and co-creation.

Another priority for GFFC is innovation in design and materials. The footwear industry’s environmental impact is exacerbated by inefficient design and poor planning around product end-of-life. The coalition “seeks to drive design and materials innovation to mitigate this impact and achieve best practice standards across the footwear value chain”.

“GFFC recognises the value of cultural sustainability and how it can help us to achieve authentic dialogue with consumers, play a role in community development and placemaking and find a balance between heritage skills and new and emerging technologies”, says the Founder. Brands can build authenticity and loyalty by moving beyond price-driven consumption and reconnecting with local heritage and identity.

The GFFC organises curated events that bring together stakeholders from different sectors and disciplines to foster real collaboration. The coalition “has developed a multi-layered approach rooted in connection, co-creation and knowledge sharing”, promoting genuine interactions and transforming ideas into action.

Gilroy highlights that “at the heart of our strategy is a series of curated events designed to break down the industry’s entrenched, siloed thinking”. Rather than traditional conferences, these are carefully designed forums for sharing insights, building partnerships and exploring solutions in a neutral, open setting. Interactive workshops further support this approach. “This co-creation process ensures that all voices contribute to shaping the future of the industry”.

In line with its collaborative ethos, the GFFC champions open-source information and data sharing. “We want to create a shared knowledge base that empowers the industry to make more informed decisions. This transparency builds trust and gives all participants access to a common set of tools and knowledge”, shares the Founder.

Beyond industry-wide efforts, GFFC also provides organisations with tailored support. By combining coalition insights with strategic consultancy, “we ensure that challenges are met with actionable responses”.

Ultimately, GFFC’s ambition is to serve as a catalyst for collective progress. “Through this integrated model combining events, workshops, open-source collaboration and tailored support, the coalition is transforming diverse industry voices into a united force”, emphasises Gilroy.

More information about the Global Footwear Future Coalition can be found here.