Our Story
Robin started making shoes when her first child (now in his 50s) outgrew a pair that her mother had saved from her own toddlerhood, making great use out of leather scraps she always seemed to have around.
By the time Robin’s second baby was born, women from her La Leche League community started asking her to make shoes for their babies, and it was then that she decided to turn her hobby into a home business. Thus, Soft Walker Shoes was born.
Over the past 40+ years, Robin has been making shoes. Sometimes for retail and sometimes just for family, both young and old. As she got closer to retirement, Robin knew she wanted to pass on her knowledge and artisanship to someone who would love making shoes just as much as her, and that’s when she met Allie.
During her first pregnancy, Allie’s son was diagnosed with Down syndrome. Just like any first time parent, Allie and her husband didn’t know what the future would hold for their son. As he grew older, Allie knew in her heart that her family would have to work toward cultivating opportunities for her son to participate in and thrive.
Even though the details were hazy, Allie felt called to one day build a family business that could support her son, and other people with special needs, by training them in skilled work. This company would be founded on the principle of fostering a sense of purpose, independence, and pride in adults with special needs.
Shortly after Allie and her family came to this realization, she and Robin met each other and formed an unlikely, yet providential friendship. Soon, the two hatched a plan for Allie to carry on the legacy of Soft Walker Shoes.
The cover of Soft Walker Shoes retail catalog from September 1983. Super cool right?!
Our Shoes
At Soft Walker Shoes, we are committed to crafting leather barefoot style shoes for your family. Why barefoot shoes? Because God’s design for your feet was perfect from the beginning. Every aspect of our minimalist, leather shoes are curated to provide the utmost comfort and protection while mimicking the sensation of walking barefoot.
We believe that our feet are biomechanical marvels, and we want to ensure that every step is supported by quality materials and thoughtful design! Each pair of our leather shoes is handmade with love and attention to detail. We meticulously select only the best materials and take pride in every stitch that goes into the creation of each pair of Soft Walker Shoes.
One of the key elements in our design philosophy is flexibility. We believe that feet, especially little ones, should be able to move freely and naturally, aiding in healthy foot development. Our leather shoes feature wide toe boxes and supple, zero drop soles that allow for unrestricted movement, making them ideal for early walkers and beyond.
Soft Walker Shoes proudly and joyfully offers several varieties of designs and are constantly working to develop new, practical footwear that your family will enjoy. If our families could use it, chances are, so could yours!