Hop on board the sole train

Sometimes the simplest ideas work the best. When former winemaker Mario Polegato came up with the concept of a breathable sole whilst walking in the Nevada desert, he hardly imagined that within a decade he would become one of the biggest shoemakers in the world. Now, guided by a messianic vision of forever eradicating sweaty feet, GEOX is one of the most profitable fashion brands in Europe. Polegato currently finds himself ranked 350th on the Forbes Rich List, with a fortune estimated at $2.2 billion. During a whistle-stop tour of GEOX shop openings across the Middle East last month, he talked exclusively to Executive magazine in Beirut. E The idea of having a breathable sole is actually pretty simple. Were you surprised that no one else had thought of it already? Ideas start in different ways. Sometimes the very strong innovations begin at university or school and sometimes they come