From day one Faryl’s mission was clear: To champion ALL women through footwear that empowers, inspires and reminds them of their strength. She set out to design more than just shoes-she set out to create tools of confidence, symbols of purpose and honor women for all they are and all they are becoming.


When footwear designer and FIT alumna Faryl Robin Gilston approached the DTech Lab, she didn’t arrive with a typical project brief. Instead, she extended an open invitation to the students: “Explore who we are. Interpret our DNA. Push the limits.”For more than two decades, Faryl Robin Gilston has been a determined force in the fashion world. Her namesake company, Faryl Robin, was launched from her studio apartment in New York City and today is one of the most influential and largest female-founded private label footwear development companies in the U.S.

Her vision was to give students true creative freedom, untethered from prescriptive constraints, while anchoring their exploration in the brand’s identity. The challenge was to discover new ways for the Faryl Robin brand—known for empowering all women through thoughtful, inclusive footwear—to grow and evolve.

This meant venturing beyond the expected, breaking category assumptions, and asking bold questions:

How can travel footwear be reimagined for today’s lifestyles?

What would it look like if style and function held equal weight?

How can sustainability be seamlessly embedded in the design process?

The student team began by immersing themselves in the Faryl Robin brand ethos—one rooted in empowerment, versatility, and inclusivity. Through research and trend analysis, they identified a clear gap in the footwear market: stylish, adaptable shoes for modern travelers.

Travel footwear often sits in extremes: bulky sneakers prioritizing comfort but lacking elegance, or fashion-forward shoes unsuited to long days on the move. The opportunity lay in creating a product that could bridge this divide—a shoe for people who live in motion, from boarding gates to cobblestone streets.

From this insight came FRTHR—a concept that blends modular design with a bold brand statement. The name captures two layers of meaning:

“FR” represents Faryl Robin

“THR” embodies the spirit of going further—pushing boundaries in both travel and design

FRTHR is a new take on travel footwear, designed with adaptability, comfort, and sustainability at its core. The shoe features a modular two-part structure:

A sock-like inner shoe made with breathable, lightweight materials for all-day wear

A durable outer sole that protects and supports through different terrains, from airports to city sidewalks

The design aesthetic is deliberately minimalist yet expressive, reflecting movement and versatility. Sustainable choices informed material selection, with the aim of reducing waste and increasing the shoe’s lifespan.
This isn’t simply a “travel shoe”—it’s a flexible system that adapts to its wearer’s journey. Whether packing light for a business trip or navigating a full day of sightseeing, FRTHR is built to meet the needs of travelers who refuse to compromise between style and practicality.