Our Story

Hello, and welcome to Neotrek Footwear. I’m Joe, but this story has never been just about me, but what happens when lived experience meets thoughtful design, and when listening matters as much as building.

My path into mobility began out of necessity. As a partial-foot amputee, I quickly learned that most footwear assumes symmetry, predictability, and bodies that fit a narrow standard. The options available to me were limited, outdated, or designed as medical compromises rather than real-world solutions. Every day movement became something to manage rather than enjoy.

That gap was the starting point for Neotrek.

The company took shape in my Master's program at USC’s Iovine and Young Academy, where I met a group of designers, engineers, and strategists who shared a belief that inclusivity should be structural, not symbolic. Together, we began designing footwear around real anatomy. The goal was simple but ambitious: create products that adapt to people, not the other way around.

Since launching in early 2024, we’ve learned a great deal. We’ve learned that fit is not just about measurements, but about confidence. That durability matters more than novelty. That people with foot anatomy differences do not want to be treated as edge cases, and neither do the people who support them. Most importantly, we’ve learned that when footwear works, it quietly restores access to experiences many people have learned to avoid.

That became clear to me recently on a family trip over the holidays to the Dominican Republic. Wearing our Naya custom-fit sandals, I was able to explore the Damajagua Waterfalls with my family. The terrain was uneven, wet, and demanding. Before Neotrek, I would have opted out of this kind of experience without hesitation. This time, I didn’t have to think twice. I walked, climbed, and moved with my family, present in the moment rather than managing my body.

That experience was not about adventure branding or personal triumph, but normalcy, access, and designing products that quietly get out of the way.

Neotrek’s work starts simply with comfortable socks and extends into custom-fit footwear built using our proprietary 3D scanning and anatomy-aware manufacturing methodology. We focus on asymmetry, volume differences, pressure points, and compatibility with prosthetics and orthotics because those details shape daily life. More than 230 million people worldwide* live with foot anatomy differences due to diabetes, trauma, or congenital conditions. For us, that is not a statistic. It is a responsibility and a call to action.

Our vision for Neotrek extends beyond individual products. We are building a system of footwear designed for real bodies, informed by clinicians, practitioners, and the people who wear our products every day. We believe foot equity means giving people the freedom to move through the world without constantly negotiating their limitations.

Neotrek exists because people deserve better options. Options that feel considered. Options that last and options that make participation possible.

Thank you for being part of this journey. We’re still learning, still listening, and still building toward a future where access is designed in from the start. And we're just getting started!

All the best,

Joe Sherbanee
Founder, Neotrek Footwear

*Based on data from the National Institutes of Health, AARP, Institute for Preventive Foot Health, Amputee Coalition of America, and the American Academy of Family Physicians