Hello and welcome to Happy Little Soles. If you've found your way here, there's a good chance your story is similar to mine.
My introduction to barefoot footwear came in 2012 when my younger daughter, Keala, was struggling with her walking and balance. Like many parents, I was looking for answers and becoming increasingly frustrated by the lack of well-fitting, foot-friendly shoes available on the high street.
Then, through a series of chance conversations, I discovered barefoot shoes.
The difference was remarkable. Keala became steadier on her feet and stopped falling over so frequently. That experience encouraged me to learn more about feet, movement and how footwear affects the way we walk and stand.
Having practised yoga for many years, I already understood the importance of posture, balance and alignment. What I hadn't realised was that many of the exercises I was doing were trying to restore strength, flexibility and mobility that our feet naturally possess in the first place.
It was a real lightbulb moment.
Before long, our whole family had made the switch to barefoot shoes. Like many of our customers, I found myself searching for footwear for every part of life. School shoes, everyday shoes, boots for muddy walks, sandals for summer holidays. At the time, the choice was incredibly limited.
I naturally became acquainted with Happy Little Soles so when they opportunity came to become a part of the business, it felt like an exciting next step.
As a family, we've experienced every stage of the barefoot journey ourselves, from first walkers and school shoes to hiking boots, work boots and everything in between. Everything I have learned has shaped the way I approach buying for Happy Little Soles today.
In 2016, Chris and Laura took over the day-to-day running of the business and have continued to grow Happy Little Soles whilst remaining true to the values that have always been at its heart.
Although I no longer run the business day to day, I'm still very much involved. I continue to lead our buying and product selection, carefully choosing the styles and brands we stock for our customers.
Whether you're completely new to barefoot shoes or have been wearing them for years, we're delighted you've found us.
Warm wishes,
Kate Harrington
Head Buyer, Happy Little Soles
