Our story: BALAO, or the art of creating differently
BALAO is a brand of sneakers designed in Belgium and manufactured in Portugal from sports waste.
But before being a brand, BALAO was born of a powerful idea: to prove that it is possible to create desirable, well-designed and more responsible products, without having to choose between style, quality and impact.
In a world where fashion produces too much, throws away too much and standardizes everything, BALAO was born with the desire to offer something different. Something fairer, more coherent, more sustainable.
The initial idea was simple: to take materials from sport that were destined to be thrown away, and give them a second life in a product that people really want to wear every day.
That's how BALAO began.
Two profiles, one direction
BALAO is the brainchild of Antoine Kecskes and Arthur Gossart.
Antoine imagined the brand and designed the first model, with a clear vision from the outset: to transform sports materials into a credible, well-designed product made to last. The first pre-orders were launched in January 2024.
Arthur joined the adventure in June 2024. What started out as a marketing support quickly turned into a broader commitment. It soon became clear that the project had the potential and complementarity to be built by two people.
Today, Antoine is primarily responsible for the company's overall development, B2B partnerships and strategic vision. Arthur manages marketing, brand image and operations. Product development is also a two-man operation.
From a first model to a company
After an initial phase of development, testing and structuring, the company was officially created in April 2025.
Since March 1, 2026, Antoine and Arthur have devoted themselves 100% to BALAO.
This move to full-time work marks an important milestone: BALAO is no longer just a strong idea or a promising project, but a company built to last, with the ambition of bringing another way of creating to the world of sneakers.
Why sport?
Because sport generates an astronomical amount of waste, even though some of these materials still have real value.
BALAO was born of this intuition: to see these materials not as an end, but as a starting point. The first models were thus developed from old soccer balls, with a simple logic: recover, transform and revalue to create pieces designed for everyday use.
This approach reflects the brand's vision: to design products that make sense, without sacrificing style or high standards.
A consistent approach, from design to manufacture
At BALAO, responsibility isn't just about words. It's built into the choices we make.
This is achieved through design conceived in Belgium, ethical manufacturing in Portugal within an ecosystem renowned for its expertise in footwear, and the integration of recycled materials and more eco-responsible alternatives.
The name BALAO, which means "ball" in Portuguese, links the world of sport, the origin of the project and the country where our sneakers take shape.
We don't pretend to be perfect. Our ambition is simpler and more demanding: to move forward seriously, with transparency, and to build fairer products every step of the way.
What BALAO wants to build
BALAO is more than just a sneaker.
The brand wants to defend a more circular vision of the product: transforming what already exists, enhancing the value of materials, and creating pieces that people want to wear for a long time.
Our ambition is to build a brand with a strong identity, real coherence and a sustainable trajectory. A brand capable of combining design, high product standards and the recycling of sports waste, without unnecessary compromise.
From the outset, BALAO has made progress thanks to all those who believe in the project: customers, clubs, partners, friends and early supporters.
The story is just beginning.
By BALAO Circular Wear
