The Drop 436 | Hylo - Live in London
Feb 23, 2026
Jorma Seabourne, former Aston Martin and Adidas designer now CPO at Hylo, and Jacob Green, CEO building a performance-first, cleaner-materials running brand. They recount Hylo’s origin, deep footwear design choices, support vs cushioning tech, material innovations, manufacturing in Vietnam, and the plan to expand into a seven-shoe road running range.
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Cleaner Materials Can Improve Performance
- Hylo made performance the primary brief and used cleaner materials to enable higher performance rather than compromise it.
- Jacob Green says third-party data shows cleaner polymers improved energy return, grip, and shock absorption versus competitors.
Iterate Materials With Geometry And Supply Partners
- Iterate materials and components together until feel and lab data align rather than swapping one part in isolation.
- Jorma Seabourne describes testing foam plaques, midsoles, yarns and building bespoke supply relationships to hit durability and ride.
Create Gentle Support With Geometry Not Intrusive Posts
- Design support via geometry, platform width, dual-durometer midsoles, internal stiffening ESS sheet, and targeted rubber strips rather than intrusive posts.
- Jorma details how width, heel cupping, and warp-knit uppers provide guidance without a harsh feel.