Alex Witty, a 27-year-old entrepreneur from Bath, transformed his bedroom into a makeshift workshop during the Covid lockdown, launching a sustainable shoe business now favored by Formula 1 drivers. While studying sustainable product design at the University of Brighton, Alex began experimenting with unconventional materials like ocean plastics, seaweed, and coffee using panini presses.
After lockdown lifted, he traveled worldwide to learn shoemaking techniques and developed an innovative idea: creating trainers with soles made from discarded Formula One and motorsport racing tires. Leveraging over £100,000 raised through UK grants and private investment, Alex founded Compound Footwear and began collaborations with top motorsport teams, including McLaren, Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, and tire manufacturer Pirelli.
“The inspiration came during lockdown when I realized billions of shoes are made annually alongside billions of tires that often end up incinerated,” Alex explains. “Since about 80% of shoes are rubber-based, I saw an opportunity to merge these waste streams and reduce environmental impact.”
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Tyres are shredded in Northampton to produce pure rubber powder, which forms the sneaker soles. The shoe uppers are crafted from recycled materials such as leather and polyester. Design accents subtly incorporate elements inspired by Formula 1 cars, like front and rear wing shapes and ERS tail lights. Production takes place in Portugal, with the limited-edition Monte Carlo C1 shoe launching in London via a pop-up event. Each pair includes a unique swing tag made from genuine carbon fiber sourced from Williams Racing’s 2024 F1 season.
The collection has gained international attention, with customers from the USA to Australia pre-ordering. Notably, Alpine driver Pierre Gasly often sports the sustainable range at Grand Prix events. Alex proudly notes, “Having five percent of the 2025 Formula 1 drivers wearing our shoes is a huge success.”
Alex’s family background in motorsport—his father Chris worked alongside Ayrton Senna in the 1980s—has been helpful, although Alex stresses, “Nothing was handed to me. Shoe manufacturing and funding have been challenging.”
To scale up, Alex plans to launch the Sprinter, a lighter, performance-enhanced limited edition sneaker, while seeking angel investors to expand his team. Currently managing every aspect—accounting, marketing, photography, and shipping—Alex is eager to build a support system that allows balanced work hours and business growth.
SWIG Finance assisted Alex with a £25,000 Start Up Loan, providing essential funding for prototypes and the initial production run. Alex reflects, “Getting that funding was a turning point—it turned years of work into reality. Suzy Lowe at SWIG made the process smooth and less stressful.”
Suzy praises Alex’s vision and dedication: “Compound Footwear is an exciting venture with great execution. Alex’s passion makes working with him a joy.”
The Start Up Loans program, backed by the British Business Bank, offers personal loans and free mentoring to help early-stage entrepreneurs turn their ideas into thriving businesses.