Our story
About AKVO
AKVO makes unisex footwear that applies artisanal craftsmanship to bio-sourced materials, reimagining universal styles as refined, enduring alternatives that go beyond seasonal trends.
Our aesthetic embodies relaxed elegance, often inspired by the Mediterranean’s natural beauty and timeless simplicity, while integrating modern creativity to suit contemporary lifestyles with durability, comfort, and versatility.
Named after the Esperanto word for “water” as a nod to universality, “AKVO” reflects our core philosophy and commitment to designing with care.
Deeply connected to Mediterranean heritage, we celebrate its flora, fauna and culture while prioritizing thoughtful, regionally rooted production. With a focus on quality and environmental responsibility, we are dedicated to refining our process with purpose.
AKVO currently holds Pending B Corp status and collaborates with Coral Guardian.
PROCESS THAT REFLECTS OUR VALUES
Each pair of our sandals is meticulously handcrafted in a small-scale Portuguese factory renowned for excellence and precision. Our skilled artisans bring expertise to every stage—fitting, cutting, bonding, stitching, and finishing.
We prioritize natural resource optimization and human-scale production, ensuring ethical working conditions and a supportive environment. This commitment not only upholds quality but also reflects our philosophy of honoring craftsmanship, people, and nature.
STRAPSOur straps are crafted from a 70% GOTS hemp and 30% Tencel™ blend, offering durability, breathability, and softness. REACH compliant and naturally dyed, they combine strength with comfort. Hemp is highly resistant, grows without chemicals, and helps restore soil while converting CO₂ into oxygen. Tencel™, derived from sustainably sourced eucalyptus, is produced through an energy-efficient closed-loop process that minimizes environmental impact. Developed with expert Italian artisans, these 100% natural straps are woven in a small-scale atelier, blending tradition with innovation for a distinct finish.
FOAM FOOTBEDSMade from +90% natural latex rubber, our durable, abrasion-resistant soles come from Hevea tree sap, a renewable resource that promotes tree regeneration and reduces reliance on fossil fuels. Moulded by expert Portuguese suppliers with over 45 years of experience, our custom soles feature AKVO’s signature “A” wave design, offering foot protection and anti-slip grip for stability on wet surfaces.
RUBBER OUTER SOLEOur outer-soles are 94% natural latex rubber, which is durable and highly resistant to abrasion. Latex is the raw material extracted from the stem of a hevea tree, more commonly known as the rubber tree. The process is beneficial to the hevea as it causes its regeneration.
Our expert Portuguese sole suppliers have over 45 years experience developing custom-made moulds. These are used to make the AKVO outer-soles that integrate our logo’s “A” three wave letter. Our design ensures proper foot protection between the sole & ground, and have an anti-slip function for safe walking on wet surfaces.
Each pair of sandals comes in an AKVO embroidered dust-bag made with undyed, high-quality natural cotton canvas in the Mediterranean region. A custom made embossed AKVO sheath—crafted with FSC-certified paper in France—replaces the traditional shoebox.
Meet THE FOUNDER
Driven by her vision to transform the ordinary synthetic sandal into the consciously crafted, casual luxury staple that she couldn’t find, Daphne Wattiez founded AKVO in 2023.
After more than a decade in the film production industry, brief training in shoemaking at Arsutoria and design at Central Saint Martins laid the foundation for bringing the brand to life. In-depth research into bio-materials, a commitment to craftsmanship, and partnerships with the right collaborators were key to developing her ESG-driven approach.
Daphne aims to empower AKVO wearers through the brand’s aesthetic, functionality, and values.
