You’ve heard the saying, “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure?” Mark Wystrach, co-founder of eco-conscious footwear brand MOVMT, is taking this concept very literally. During a life-changing trip to Bali, Mark saw a glimpse of the waste pollution epidemic that goes on worldwide: heaps of trash and plastic bags littered across beaches, forests, and everywhere in between. Instead of simply staging a clean-up or donating money to a cause, Mark and his brother decided to go one step further and be the cause. It was in that moment that MOVMT was born: a line of hipster-chic footwear and accessories made from the very same toxic waste that pollutes our ecosystem.

MOVMT marries the very Chalkboardy values of social consciousness and stylish design by using a combination of organic eco-conscious materials and actual up-cycled plastics, cleaned from the beaches and forests of Bali and California, to create their line of wedges, flats, oxfords and everything in between. How does this innovative company stay grounded and motivated? By staying focused on the values that matter in the long run. In an industry where trends come and go, it’s refreshing to see Mark and his team stick to their guns and dedicate themselves to being the positive change they want to see in the world. Here’s how this creatively conscious co-founder keeps his balance…