If you haven't heard of Shapen before, this Slovakian brand has a good story behind it, real attention to craft, and a design sensibility that sits comfortably in the barefoot niche. Their shoes also happen to be zero-drop, wide-toed and properly flexible. The two things we love that go together beautifully.
In the Beginning
The Shapen story begins in 2012 with Mia, a mother looking for the right first shoes for her daughter, discovering barefoot footwear, and watching her child take to natural movement with an ease that was hard to ignore. Mia tried a pair herself, partly out of curiosity and partly because she had her own reasons to be interested.
Having lived since childhood with grade III scoliosis, hypermobility and flat feet, managing these health concerns with exercise and swimming. Mia had accepted a life lived in pain, but within a month of wearing barefoot shoes, that pain had gone.
The before-and-after foot imprints below show clearly the arch that was absent gradually returning over a year of wearing.
What Mia wanted after that was elegant barefoot shoes, shoes she could wear to work and out in the evening without anyone knowing they were designed around foot health, but they didn't exist.
In 2017 she decided to create the shoes she needed herself, not the easy option! Shoemakers at the time had little experience with barefoot construction and even less interest in taking the project on.
She found her partners eventually, invested everything and launched her first e-shop in 2019, running it entirely from home. Production moved mainly to Portugal in 2022, with some models made in Poland, both chosen for the standard of craft available there.
The Shapen Range
The range covers a lot of ground: ballet flats, sandals, boots, sneakers and more, for both women and men. What sets Shapen apart is their focus on genuinely dressy, occasion-ready footwear that also meets every barefoot principle properly.
Every pair is zero-drop, wide-toed and built on one of three thin, flexible soles:
ThinStep - at a whisper thin 3mm, it gives a lightweight look and great sensory perception to sandals and occasion wear.
AllWalk - includes their Re:Wind trainers. A mere 5.5mm sole including tread supplies reliable durability with flexibility for everyday wear all year round.
FlexLine - A super light 8mm sole including tread, used for their winter wear that combines great sensory feedback with high mechanical resistance.
Shapen’s Orchid sneaker won the Global Footwear Award in the fashion sneakers and barefoot category, which is a useful indicator of where Shapen sits in the wider design conversation. This is a brand that people outside the barefoot world have started paying attention to.
What's New for Spring and Summer 2026
The spring and summer 2026 collection feels very much of this moment. There is a lightness to it, a sense of carrying the spirit of a warm summer day wherever you go.
New this season is Camille (pictured above), a delicate open flat in neutral. Neeja barefoot sandals (below) are a clean, contemporary, and feminine new shape with a nice chunky strap at the ankle and across the foot.
The gorgeous Twiggy sandal brings a retro flavour to the collection, with contrasting colour combinations inspired by the 1960s, and a pared-back barefoot design. Also available in black and white, and beige and brown, this jaunty gingham version has really caught the eye of the Happy Little Soles team!
The Playa espadrille, which holds the distinction of being the first barefoot espadrille ever made, returns with three new summer colours: Coral, Yellow and Olive, and is available in two widths.
Alongside it is the Festa, made from raffia and cotton canvas in Natural and Blue, with two strap options so you can wear it differently depending on the occasion you're attending.
It is a collection that feels elegant without feeling effortful, which is exactly the right note for summer.
We have included two new colourways of Shapen's wonderfully comfortable trainer, Re:wind. Choose from peach, jade, or have both!
Shapen at Happy Little Soles
Our Shapen collection covers adult sizes across all seasons. From ankle boots and knee-high styles that bring a couture feel to your outfits, through to urban sneakers, formal wear, occasion shoes and the kind of barely-there sandals and slip-ons that feel made for warm evenings.
Who Are Shapen For?
You! Shapen has a shoe for everyone. Designed to elevate your office attire, be the stand-out shoe for special occasions, and the perfect fit that reflects your personal style, these are the shoes that will pull your look together. Flats like the brand new Twiggy and Tulip strike an elegant balance for you to choose to dress up or down.
The Fit
Shapen shoes are designed with a generous toe box and a gentle, natural slope, making them comfortable across a broad range of foot shapes. Some styles are even available in two widths, and several work beautifully for extra‑wide feet. It's satisfying to be able to offer that level of choice in such polished barefoot footwear.
Sizing varies by style and generally runs from EU 35 to EU 47, with women’s‑specific models usually available up to EU 44. As with most closed‑toe barefoot shoes, a little breathing room at the front makes all the difference, and winter styles benefit from slightly extra space to allow for thicker socks.
Because fit can differ from one design to the next, it’s always worth checking the individual size chart before ordering. And if you’re unsure, we’re always happy to help, with free returns, there’s no pressure to get it perfect the first time.
A Perfect Partnership
Shapen occupies a space in the barefoot world that feels genuinely their own, creating elegant, occasion-ready footwear that treat foot health and design with equal care. Finding that balance, and executing it with such consistency and craft, is something we genuinely value and are proud to share.
Their story is one we keep returning to, It began with one woman searching for shoes that didn't exist, learning how to make them, and building a brand that now reaches customers around the world. That combination of purpose, patience, and passion is what makes Shapen such a natural fit for us at Happy Little Soles.
You can explore the full Shapen collection at Happy Little Soles here.
