Craftsmanship Meets Innovation: Royal Smit & Zoon and Van Drunen Schoenfabriek Join Forces

We are proud to announce a unique collaboration between Royal Smit & Zoon and Van Drunen Schoenfabriek, a partnership that unites two Dutch heritage companies, each driven by craftsmanship, innovation, and a deep commitment to quality.

What happens when you combine more than 200 years of leather expertise with over a century of shoemaking mastery? You gain powerful, real-world insights into how sustainable leather performs throughout the entire footwear manufacturing process.

Zeology at the core of the partnership

At the heart of this collaboration lies Zeology: our patented tanning technology designed for circularity and superior performance. Together with the skilled team at Van Drunen Schoenfabriek, we examined how Zeology leather behaves during every critical and demanding step of shoemaking.

A rich contribution from Royal Smit & Zoon experts

From material specialists and leather technologists working on tanning and crust development, to teams engaging directly with customers, colleagues across Royal Smit & Zoon contributed their knowledge. This allowed us to evaluate Zeology leather from multiple angles: technical, functional, and user-driven.

A true exchange of expertise

Royal Smit & Zoon brought innovation, testing capabilities, and in-depth material understanding. Van Drunen Schoenfabriek opened their doors and shared their deep craftsmanship, grounded in fit, comfort, and functional excellence.

More than co-creation

This collaboration represents a shared step toward a future where sustainability, performance, and human-centric design are not trade-offs, but the standard. Together, we’re redefining what’s possible in sustainable footwear.