Jennifer Stucko didn’t want Prota Fiori to be the typical made-in-Italy footwear launch. After gaining insight into the world of high-end fashion and footwear by holding positions at brands such as Giorgio Armani, Valentino and A. Testoni, Stucko began to think about fashion’s faulty relationship with sustainability.

With pride in her heritage as a fourth-generation Italian-American as well as a focus on health and wellness, Stucko came up with Prota Fiori — a luxury women’s footwear line that uses innovative upcycled materials such as apple and grape leather from Italy.