During a summer trip to Asia in 2017, David was presented with the opportunity to visit a footwear factory that manufactures shoes for brands such as Timberland, KEEN and Columbia. He was inspired to go after taking RISD ID course 'Manufacturing Techniques' during that Spring semester.
He was most impacted after seeing several factory workers handle toxic chemicals such as the contact cement that is used to bond a shoe upper to its outsole. Seeing the amount of waste produced and the harmful effects of toxic chemicals used during his visit intensified his drive to find a solution for the problems plaguing the shoe production industry. This trip left David feeling committed to using his knowledge, skills, and resources to combat the issues of waste and toxins associated with the footwear industry.
