Our Products
Which products do we offer?
Though we're working on new designs, at this moment we have only one but in a big variety of colors. Besides choosing from our designs, you can also choose our Custom Design - mix and match your personal color favorites for a guaranteed unique design. Our Custom Fit option is ideal for those with difficult foot shapes that like a comfortable, tailor-made barefoot shoe.​

Why are our Earth Soles so unique?​
Our footwear is different because they're made from recycled leather, which allows us to always have a rotation of various colors of leather and make our shoes sustainable. And we offer leather soles, which activate acupuncture on your soles which is healthy and keeps your feet naturally spread. They are flexible, breathable, and offer a true barefoot experience.

How durable are they?
Leather has proven to be very durable - the bushman and Aboriginals used to wear nothing else than leather for their shoes back in the day! When only wearing our shoes indoors, they can last a lifetime. When wearing them outdoors, limit walking them on wet pavements, as this increases the stretch of the weather and expedites wear and tear. Also, when you are dragging your feet across the pavement while walking they will walk through much faster. Adding leather care fot the sole increases the life span of your Earth Soles. Find our leather care here, or find leather wax in your local store. Head here for more caring instructions. 

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Can you wear them outside?

Although they can serve as comfortable house slippers, we originally made our Earth Soles for outdoor wear. Though, try to not wear them on wet pavements as this can act like sandpaper on the leather sole, causing it to wear faster. Additionally, the leather might stretch and lose its shape with frequent outdoor use. When this is the case, you can simply throw them in the washing machine at 60 degrees and dry them naturally and not in direct sunlight. They will go back to their original shape. Find here more information about the care for our Earth Soles.

Our Prices
How do we get to our pricing?

We understand our pricing may seem high for a simple product, but several factors contribute to it. Each shoe takes about 2.5 hours to make, with a unique pattern crafted for every size to ensure the perfect fit—a process that took a year to reach perfection! And up till this day, we continuously work on improving our product. Lastly, we like to donate a part of our funds to charities. Head to our About page to find out more.
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Fitting
How do they stretch?
Earth Soles can stretch about 10%, and they'll adapt to your feet over time. Wear them, let them mold to your foot shape, and enjoy that perfect fit as they become uniquely yours. Be aware that they will stretch faster when they are wet. To ensure the perfect fit from the start, head to our Size and Fit Guide. When your shoes have stretched, you can either wash them and dry them naturally, they will turn back to their original shape. Also, we can advise our sheepskin insole, to fill up your shoe in comfort.

Can you suit our Regular Fit?
Our regular shapes from The Collection and Custom Fit will fit best for those with medium-wide feet and a pointed toe box. Head to our Sizing Guide for more information. If your feet are exceptionally slim, wide, or have unique dimensions, consider our Custom Fit option. 

How are our Earth Soles meant to fit?

Our shoes are designed to snugly embrace your feet, providing a second-skin feel. Initially, they may feel slightly tight. Wear them indoors for a day or two; they will mold comfortably to your feet. Once they fit comfortably, avoid getting them wet to prevent further stretching. If the shoes feel too tight and painful, please contact us without further scratching the soles.

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Our leather

What does repurposed / recycled leather mean?
For our top and back parts, we use 100% recycled leather. This is leather that local upholstries in Cape Town no longer use. We select the best colors and quality, and add them to our designs. This makes our shoes not only sustainable, but also all designs a limited choice!
 

Our eco-friendly practices reduce the environmental impact of our footwear, and we are committed to continuing our efforts toward a greener future. Head to our blogs to read more about us using repurposed leather.
 

Grounding & Health

How do Earth Soles keep you grounded?
Earth Soles allows grounding as we have 1 1.5 mm thin leather sole, that will still conduct the energy of the earth with about 80%. This is 80% more than the regular rubber sole shoes! Find out more about how our shoes keep you grounded, by heading to our Instagram page to our highlight "Grounding"

 

Why is grounding/earthing good for us?
Grounding or earthing connects us to the Earth's biomagnetic field, reducing stress, inflammation, pain, improving sleep, and supporting the nervous system. If you like to read more about this subject, head to our blogs or watch the documentary Kiss The Ground, or Earthing.

Why is barefoot walking good for us?
Walking barefoot has many other health benefits besides grounding! It is a natural way to strengthen your feet, improve balance, and support healthy movement. It encourages better posture, boosts circulation, and can even help reduce discomfort over time. And with our fully leather barefoot shoes—designed with flexible leather soles—you can enjoy all these benefits while still protecting your feet.
 

Can you wear Earth Soles when you have bunions?

Yes, we could say they would work really well, as our shoes mold around the shape of your feet. It is recommended to measure your feet and send them to us, so we can advise you on whether to opt for our Regular or Custom Fit.
 

Can those with a history of foot injuries wear Earth Sole?

If you've had foot issues in the past, you can still ease into our Earth Soles - compare it with being barefoot. Just take it slow, especially if you've been using corrective shoes. Get in touch if you would like some more guidance.

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What if you're not used to walking barefoot?

If you're not used to walking barefoot, transitioning can take some time. The key is to start slow, giving your feet time to adjust. Begin by walking barefoot on soft surfaces, gradually increasing the duration as your muscles adapt.
 

And we know that going fully barefoot isn’t always practical, plus not everywhere as social accepted! That’s why our shoes are designed to feel as close to barefoot as possible while still protecting your feet with our thin, flexible leather soles. They let your feet move naturally—helping you ease into the barefoot lifestyle comfortably and effortlessly.

And to make the transition even easier, we offer sheepskin inners than will offer soft support, besides warmth for the soles.

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How do Earth Soles manage water?
It is best to keep your shoes as dry as possible, as they will stretch less fast. Also, when they are wet and you walk on asphalt, asphalt will turn into sandpaper for your leather soles, which decreases durability. If they do get wet, just let them air dry and out of direct sun.​

 

How should you care for your Earth Sole shoes?

For regular maintenance, you can simply wipe your Earth Sole shoes with a damp cloth to remove dirt and stains. If they need a deeper clean, they are machine washable up to 40 degrees. Allow them to air dry naturally, avoiding direct sunlight. Also Beeswax would work well to add to the sole, to keep your leather nice and moisturized. Find our leather care at our webshop, or at your local footwear store. For more caring tips, head to our Caring Guidelines.

Do we also make shoes for kids?-
We are very willing to also start with Earth Sole Mini, but have unfortunately not had the capacity to perfectionize the patterns for the small ones. Subscribe to the newsletter to be the first to know about our launch, or send us a specific inquiry, we will add you to our Kids Shoes email list.

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What is the difference between male and female Earth Soles?
Male Earth Soles have a wider and rounder toe box and more space at the top/bridge. Therefore, if you have wide feet as a female, go for our male sizes (if available in your size). Do you have narrow feet as a man? Head for our female sizes. Is your feet to wide for a male size or to narrow for a female, we recommend a Custom Fit.

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What is Earth Sole's return policy?

Please refer to our Refund and Exchange page for more information. Your satisfaction is our priority!

Local discount
We understand that life in South Africa can be challenging, and we're all about locals supporting locals. That's why we offer a large discount to all South African customers ordering through our website, head here to find out more.

Supporting NGO’s
We believe in giving back. For every Earth Sole sold, we donate 1% of our profit to two Capetonian charities. More about this and the NGO's we support, head over to the bottom part of our Charity page.
 

Collaborations

Together we stand stronger. In the last years, we have started collaborating with other brands and people, who share their love and passion for Earth Sole. Curious who they are? Found out here!

⤀ Minimal-list is a great business that shows a wide variety of barefoot shoes on their website, and shares about barefoot shoes and the benefits of barefoot walking on their Instagram Page. 

⤀ Isabelle has been a great Earth Sole fan since the start. She shares frequently about the benefits and adventures of her Earth Soles on her instagram page, and has written a book called Mindful Feet, where she passionately writes about the advantages of grounding and barefoot walking. 

⤀ Sereya is another barefoot fanatic. She shares on her Instagram page about barefoot shoes, and the benefits of barefoot walking. Find here the beautiful Earth Sole Footwear unboxing video she created. 

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If you have any more questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to get in touch with us. We're here to help you make the most of your Earth Sole footwear experience.

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And if you're curious to discover our latest design, follow this link!