Tom & James in wildsole sandals standing on a wooden dock by a lake with mountains and trees in the background, one with his arm around the other, both dressed casually for cool weather.

Our Story

How wildsole was born.

wildsole is the brainchild of two friends, Tom and James. 

They met in 2020 and connected over their shared interest of exploring ways to work and live more naturally. 

As both Tom and James transitioned to wearing barefoot shoes with thinner soles and a wider toe box, they noticed a huge difference in how it felt to move. It felt liberating and enjoyable in a way they hadn’t experienced since they were kids.

They wanted to find some barefoot running sandals, like those still worn by indigenous peoples all around the world but they couldn’t find any made in the UK.

So, they decided to make their own and wildsole was born.

A man running outdoors on a grassy trail during cloudy weather, wearing a black jacket, shorts, and wildsole sandals.
Tom & James are jumping and balancing on a weathered wooden dock extending into a lake, with mountains and trees in the background, wearing casual outdoor clothing and wildsole sandals.
A man squatting on a large rock in an outdoor, rocky, grassy area, wearing a yellow beanie, black puffy jacket, green shirt, rolled-up jeans, and wildsole sandals, smiling at the camera

The ethos of wildsole

wildsole is run by a small, passionate team. We are very proud of our sandals and our aim is for them to not only feel comfortable and beneficial for your feet and body, but also to leave a positive impact on the environment.

wildsole sandals are handcrafted in Yorkshire from animal friendly materials and shipped in recycled, plastic free packaging.

We know how good it feels to wear wildsoles and are excited for you to come on this journey with us.

A man running in wildsole sandals on a wooden dock extending into a lake, surrounded by mountains and cloudy sky.

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A person wearing wildsole sandals and a hoodie and athletic gear is mid-air, jumping with their knees bent and arms outstretched, outdoors against a cloudy sky.

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Person wearing muddy black wildsole sandals standing on a wet wooden deck with pebbles and leaves.

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Person running through shallow water wearing black shorts and wildsole sandals.

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Person jogging outdoors in wildsole sandals on grassy hill with cloudy sky and distant hills in the background.

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Close-up of a person wearing wildsole sandals balancing on a rock in a shallow stream.

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Why sandals?

We know sandals have been worn for over 10,000 years. We wanted to create a modern reimagining of the shoes our ancestors wore.

 wildsole sandals allow feet to move in a way that is as close to being barefoot as possible.

They have a zero-drop sole that is thin and flexible to allow your feet to truly feel the ground beneath you and adapt accordingly.

The adjustable straps hold your feet secure so that the toes don’t have to grip any part of the sole.

The wide toe box and lack of constraint allows the feet to expand as much as they need too when you put weight on them.

wildsole sandals can be worn in all weathers, including frost and snow since they allow for toe movement. This gives the toes an opportunity to adapt to their environment and become more resilient.

We have been researching, testing and developing wildsole sandals for three years and have worn them everywhere from the school run, park runs, ultra-runs, camping, swimming, climbing trees, in the rain, snow and on the beach.

Team

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Team

Our

Tom & Faye

Tom & Faye taking a selfie outdoors by a river on a cloudy day, both wearing warm jackets and knit hats.

Partners Tom and Faye live with their two girls in Yorkshire, on the edge of the Peak District. They previously ran a successful fast fashion footwear business but are changing direction completely to focus on wildsole sandals as the ethos of fast fashion no longer aligns with how they want to live.

Tom is a keen runner and makes every pair of wildsole sandals by hand. Together Tom and Faye run the innovations and operations side of wildsole sandals.

James & Naomi

James & Naomi holding hands and walking barefoot on a sandy beach with dunes and grass, under a partly cloudy sky.

James is an award-winning graphic designer and Naomi is a poet and writer. Together they make children's books. They live with their two boys in Cornwall and love walking by and swimming in the sea in their wildsole sandals.

James is a keen martial artist and has done all the branding for wildsole sandals. Naomi is the resident copywriter.