Walking back from a business meeting, management consultant Emilia Higashi quickly developed blisters on her feet. She figured there had to be better way to make women's shoes – ones more comfortable and also sustainable, made from plants instead of animal or petroleum products. Soon, she was researching in Italy at the world's biggest footwear trade show. She fell in love with a design called Saccheto, or little sack, that has minimal seams and fits almost like a sock. Then, she looked worldwide for sustainable plant-based materials, including "leathers" made from wine residues, pineapple fibers, cactus and even algae.