FROM MOTTO TO MOVEMENT: ACBC’S COMMITMENT TO A GREENER FUTURE
By: Erica Commisso
Italian shoe brand ACBC stands by its motto, "Anything Can Be Changed," a philosophy deeply ingrained in its approach to the fashion industry. "The name reflects our core belief that a more sustainable future is achievable if we rethink how products are made and consumed," explains Gio Giacobbe, co-founder and CEO of ACBC. “It embodies optimism and action: the idea that with innovation and commitment, even industries with deep-rooted practices, like fashion, can shift towards environmental responsibility.”
Using sustainable practices, materials and mentality, the brand has found success, while sticking to its core values. “ACBC has designed, produced and reduced impact on over one million products, spanning casual, performance and lifestyle categories,” Giacobbe says. “Each collection reflects our commitment to sustainability and innovation, often incorporating partnerships with brands and organizations that share our values.”
One of those partnerships is with online retailer Italist, which offers Italian luxury goods from around the world at more approachable prices to consumers across the globe. “We’re thrilled to have ACBC’s innovative and sustainable designs featured on italist because they represent the future-facing brands we proudly offer our customers,” says Italist CEO Diego Abba. “ACBC’s approach to fashion, which prioritizes both environmental impact and high-end aesthetics, fits seamlessly with our mission to curate luxury offerings that are as responsible as they are desirable. By making ACBC’s products available on our platform, we connect our audience with a brand that delivers in terms of style and offers the transparency and sustainability that today’s consumers demand.”
Shoes, Giacobbe says, represent a universal necessity as well as both an industry challenge and need for significant change - making them the perfect entryway into the market. “The industry’s reliance on complex materials and processes often leaves a heavy ecological footprint,” he says. “By focusing on shoes, we saw an opportunity to pioneer change in a tangible way, demonstrating how sustainability and performance can coexist in an everyday product.”
Abba, for his part, believes ACBC has achieved its mission without compromising the elite values and practices of Italian luxury fashion. "ACBC has managed to carve out a truly unique space in the luxury footwear market, and having them on italist enhances the breadth of innovative offerings we present to our global audience. Their modular design allows for customization and speaks to a deeper philosophy of longevity in fashion—something that today’s conscious consumer resonates with,” he says. “By featuring ACBC, we connect our customers to a brand that reflects modern Italian craftsmanship and champions ethical and sustainable values."
Each of the shoes ACBC has designed to date has a different production timeline. The process, Giacobbe says, focuses on minimizing waste and incorporating eco-design practices, which involves a certain amount of material innovation and design creativity. It sometimes results in a longer production time, but it ensures a lighter environmental impact and a longer lifespan for the shoe, which ACBC considers a win.
“We measure success through tangible metrics: the amount of recycled materials used, reductions in carbon emissions, water savings, and the longevity of our products,” Giacobbe says. “We also prioritize certifications like B Corp and third-party verifications to validate our claims and continuously strive for improvement.”
Like many other sustainable brands, ACBC hopes its model can serve as inspiration for other companies and businesses, and for the fashion industry as a whole. It also hopes to expand its method beyond footwear. “ACBC envisions becoming a global leader in sustainable fashion, inspiring a shift across the industry towards circularity and innovation,” Giacobbe says. “Our ultimate goal is to set new standards for production, transparency, and sustainability while expanding into other categories beyond footwear to influence the broader fashion ecosystem.”