Softstar Shoes is an American shoe manufacturer and retailer based in Philomath, Oregon. It is known for its minimalist or barefoot-style shoes and has been recognized as an early participant in the movement to encourage minimalist footwear.Katovsky, Bill and Larson, Peter (2009). Tread Lightly: Form, Footwear, and the Quest for Injury-Free Running, Skyhorse Publishing, New York. .Glassman, Adam (November 2010). "On My Radar: Barefoot Running". O, The Oprah Magazine, p. 90.Adam Brix (2012). Barefoot Running - The Movie: How to Run Light and Free by Getting in Touch with the Earth (2012) (DVD). Runbare Productions.
History
Softstar Shoes was founded in 1984 by husband and wife Tim and Jeannie Oliver.Richards, Craig and Hollowell, Thomas (2011). The Complete Idiot's Guide to Barefoot Running, Penguin Group, London. . They founded the company after being unable to find minimalist shoes for their daughter and learned to sew their own from a local artisan. They began selling the shoes to their friends and neighbors and introduced the brand Softstar Shoes at the Sawdust Art Festival in 1986. Softstar Shoes relocated from Texas to Oregon in 1991. The company was purchased by current owners Patricia Salcido and Larkin Holavarri in 2005. Holavarri sold her interest in the company to Salcido in 2018, leaving Salcido as the sole owner of the company. In 2026, Salcido transitioned ownership of the company to an Employee Owned Trust (EOT) and Softstar became 100% employee owned.
Shoe styles
Softstar Shoes manufactures minimalist or barefoot-style shoes, which attempt to promote natural foot function by allowing feet to move, stretch and flex as though they were barefoot."Soft Star RunAmoc Dash Review " . College Tri."Review: Soft Star (Leather Mocs)". Barefoot Runner. In 2009 the company launched their RunAmoc line of minimalist running shoes,"Soft Star DASH RunAmoc Review". Technically Running. which coincided with the release of Christopher McDougall's bestselling book Born to Run,McDougall, Christopher (2009). Born to Run: A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen, Vintage Books, New York. . which increased interest in barefoot running and minimalist shoes."Minimal Shoes, Maximum Comfort: Soft Star Takes Barefoot Shoes from the Running Trail to the Boardroom" . The Los Angeles Fashion Magazine, November 20, 2012 Softstar also manufactures minimalist shoes for children,Bowman, Katy (2011). Every Woman's Guide to Foot Pain Relief: The New Science of Healthy Feet, p. 153. Benbella Books, Dallas. .Sandler, Michael and Lee, Jessica (2013). Barefoot Walking: Free Your Feet to Minimize Impact, Maximize Efficiency, and Discover the Pleasure of Getting in Touch with the Earth, Three Rivers Press, New York. . and a variety of styles of moccasins."Roo and Rambler Soft Star Shoes Review". Birthday shoes. Dec 13, 2011"Soft Star Moc3 RunAmoc Review". Technically Running. Its shoe line includes minimalist athletic shoes, minimalist adult casual shoes and minimalist children's shoes. It is also the only manufacturer of children's shoes based in the United States, with all materials sourced from the United States.
References