Going through life barefoot โ even if you grew up in the Netherlands where rain puddles are more rule than exception? For Anouk, it became a life mission. Her journey began on warm sandy beaches in Australia and found its way to the hills of South Africa, in her search for more feeling, more connection, and real contact with the earth. And then Earth Sole was born.
Read and discover โ through Anoukโs own words โ how a passion for freedom, sustainability, and a dash of courage grew into her own barefoot shoe brand: the small label with a big story, where each handmade pair of shoes is as unique as the step you take in them. Let yourself be inspired!
I grew up in the Netherlands, perhaps not the country where the weather constantly invites you to walk barefoot, but certainly not the worst either. It was in any case not the environment where I was used to doing that! It wasnโt until I arrived in the hippie village of Fremantle, Australia, that I discovered how wonderful it was to walk around without shoes. However, it wasnโt until the pandemic, during the South African autumn of 2020, that I really started walking barefoot almost daily.
Barefoot Between Mountains and Streams
During this period, I lived with my partner in the mountains of Riversdale, South Africa, in his converted school bus and my boho caravan. There was nothing to dress up for โ just mountains, a babbling stream, us together, and sometimes some sheep. Around our hippie spot, I often walked without shoes; even when I went to the village to do groceries, I usually left them at home. On cold days, I preferred to wear my local, handmade winter boots from Zulu Boots, but as soon as I could, no shoes for me.
Back to the City
And then the circumstances around the pandemic started to calm down, although there was still staff in the supermarket pointing out the wearing of masks, and you had to have your hands disinfected with antibacterial spray. Fortunately, we could go outside again, socialize, hit the road. Life was moving again โ and for me, that meant getting back to work with my volunteer work with homeless and at-risk people in Cape Town.
About three months before that happened, I found myself at a small festival in Riviersonderend. It was raining (yes, it also rains in South African summers) and I was sitting comfortably around the fire with a friend. She had some recycled leather with her, and because I was already thinking ahead to getting back to the office and the community center of the NGO, I couldnโt imagine wearing shoes with hard rubber soles again. I had walked barefoot at that Christian organization before, but didnโt always feel completely comfortable โ maybe a bit too hippie?
From Documentary to Design: My First Barefoot Shoes
Around that time, I had also watched the documentary Kiss The Ground (video is at the bottom of this article) and was hugely inspired by the health benefits of earthing: simply making contact with the earth. If you havenโt heard of earthing or grounding yet, look it up or watch the documentary! After this documentary, my mission became: be in direct contact with the earth as much as possible โ and those rubber soles werenโt going to help me with that. (video is at the bottom of this article)
Back to that festival, to Sarah and her leather scraps. I thought: how cool would it be if I made my own shoes, with soft, flexible leather soles? I designed a simple design, which was ready within a few days (fun, crafting!) and found it super nice to wear. It feels like walking barefoot, but with a bit more protection. Handy for prickly bushes, glass on the ground, sharp stones, and of course also much more hygienic in the city. And, to be honest: you also get fewer strange looks, haha!
The Second Pair
To my surprise, in the following year, many people asked where my shoes came from. I often joked โI made them myself, but Iโm not planning to make any more!โ I had zero experience with leather (and was vegetarian, so for ethical reasons I had no interest in leather), I had no experience making shoes or entrepreneurship. Yet I secretly found it nice that people showed so much interest! So I made a second pair, this time for my partner. In the photo, itโs clear that I was no shoemaker ๐
We went to the last hippie festival of 2022, and when he wore his shoes there, I was completely surprised: every few minutes, someone asked where his shoes came from. Thatโs when I realized how great the need is for natural footwear.
Letโs Go!
About a year and a half after I made my very first pair, I decided to really give it a shot. My relationship was ending and I moved back to Cape Town. I knew I needed a team to help me, because just sewing a pair of shoes took over an hour. Fortunately, the risk was small โ mostly my time, as it required hardly any financial investment. We use almost no tools; we literally do everything by hand. I source the leather as recycled material from local upholsterers.
The Power of Small Steps
While setting up my brand, I regularly met people who helped me along the way, whom I also call my Earth Sole angels. There were also sometimes such special moments, real synchronicities, that made me know again that I was on the right path. By now, Iโve shared a few of those special stories on my blog! (LINK). The support of these angels, the coincidences, and the enthusiasm of my customers remained an important and necessary source of motivation for me โ because building Earth Sole was often tougher than I expected.
The first two years were marked by endless experimentation with patterns and processing new fit feedback. Both on weekends and evenings, I was often busy trying out new designs, adjusting the website, or processing feedback into the best fit. Sometimes it felt like there was no end to it, and Iโve thought multiple times: now Iโm stopping. Iโm a creative person, not a businesswoman!
But then there was always another customer who was so enthusiastic about our shoes, a fit that was perfect, my loyal team that I wanted to keep working, or simply the realization that people really need these healthy natural shoes. And that gave me new energy each time to keep building something I really believe in.
Every Shoe Unique
Now three years later, weโve built a nice team and shoes that people love. We stay intentionally small โ quality over quantity โ and large-scale production wonโt happen anytime soon, because the supply of recycled leather in Cape Town is simply limited. But itโs precisely that โlimitationโ that creates something special: each pair is unique, but limited in supply, and we can offer a wide variety of colors. And of course, our shoes are super sustainable! Consciously with every step.
On the Road Without a Map
Maybe you recognize something of yourself in my journey. Thatโs why I share not only my own story, but also that of my brand Earth Sole: to give you a behind-the-scenes look at how something was created from inspiration, with an open mind, curiosity, and a bit of courage. And maybe itโs exactly the push you need right now to jump into something that makes your heart beat faster! Because isnโt that what we live for?
I also share about my journey because I think itโs important that our followers, fans, and (potential) customers know where we come from and what we stand for: authenticity, quality, and shoes that are not only great for your feet, but also kind to the people who make them and to our planet.
Want to see more of Earth Sole, discover our unique designs, or take a behind-the-scenes look? Come check out the website, and especially for Liberteque Magazine readers, weโre sharing a 15% discount on your first purchase with the coupon code โLibertequeSpecialโ.
And please leave a comment here too โ always nice to get a message from others who also like to walk their own path!
Warm regards,
Anouk โ founder of Earth Sole
https://www.instagram.com/earthsolefootwear
Want to read more about experiences with our barefoot shoes? Danielle from โBarefoot Walkingโ has tested countless barefoot shoes and shares her honest review (or: โfeetbackโ) of our Earth Sole shoes on her website. Check it out!
Kiss the Ground โ Full Documentary โ 121:51 minutes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Anouk choose to start a barefoot shoe brand?
Anouk was inspired by the health benefits of earthing and wanted to create shoes that mimic the feeling of barefoot walking while providing protection and hygiene. The idea originated at a festival in South Africa, where she used leather scraps to make her first pair of shoes. The interest of others in her shoes motivated her to start Earth Sole.
What makes Earth Sole shoes unique and sustainable?
Earth Sole shoes are handmade with recycled leather sourced from local upholsterers in Cape Town, making each pair unique. The shoes are designed to provide the feeling of barefoot walking while offering protection against sharp objects and ensuring hygiene. This makes them both sustainable and comfortable.
What is the philosophy behind Earth Sole and what does Anouk want to achieve with her brand?
The philosophy behind Earth Sole is authenticity, quality, and creating shoes that are comfortable for your feet, kind to the makers, and respectful to the planet. Anouk wants to inspire people with her brand to walk their own path and live more consciously. She values transparency and loves sharing the story behind her brand.
