ETSY GLOBAL DESIGN AWARDS

Considering the origin story behind Vicky Moudilou and Stam Guinis’s Ethical Magic Sliders, it’s fitting that the shoes are made using upcycled motorcycle tires. “We usually travel by motorcycle on our vacations,” the couple explains. In fact, it was one such trip—and more specifically, Vicky’s penchant for packing too many shoes—that inspired the idea for the colorful, interchangeable-strap sandals to begin with.The resulting design took the Athens-based couple nearly a year to bring to market, which they did during their off-hours since they both work as financial analysts by day. Their vision for the shoes included several sustainability-minded guiding principles, including not using animal leather or plastics—and the desire to create something affordable, fashionable, and, of course, light enough to pack for vacation.