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As of January 2026, Softstar is officially an employee-owned company! After 20 years of dedicated ownership, Tricia and Sal Salcido transitioned the company to an Employee-Owned Trust (EOT), ensuring that Softstar’s mission, values, and independence will be preserved for generations to come. We are a small team of shoemakers based in Philomath, Oregon. The design, production, customer service, and shipping of our footwear all happen inside our historic workshop. As an Employee-Owned Trust, we are committed to preserving Softstar’s mission while ensuring the long-term health and sustainability of the company—for the benefit of current and future coworkers.

Tricia, Sal, and Their Family

"Softstar is a special place, and I wanted to make sure it would live on in the future. Employee ownership keeps Softstar's mission intact and provides wealth-building opportunities for our current team and future Elves. Sal & I knew this was the right thing to do for the team and our community. We couldn't be happier with our decision." -Tricia Salcido

Our Mission

We are committed to ensuring all our operations, from making shoes to our involvement in the betterment of our community, encompass our mission:

  • Advance fulfilling and meaningful work for our team in an inclusive, empowering and uplifting environment.
  • Promote well-being in our local and global communities by creating quality products that promote a healthier, more connected world.
  • Walk lightly on the earth, delight our customers and uphold the values of integrity, creativity and care in all that we do.

Why an Employee-Owned Trust?

Transitioning Softstar to an Employee-Owned Trust secures and guides our mission and values of the business into perpetuity. Our elected Trust Stewardship Committee, made up of five rotating positions, gives employees a real voice in guiding the future of the company and ensuring decisions align with our mission and values.

An Employee-Owned Trust also:

  • Ensures Softstar's financial sustainability.
  • Gives the Elves a financial stake in the work they do.
  • Sustains local jobs benefiting our community.
  • Ensures that the company will never be sold, and all profits will be invested in coworker compensation and in the company’s future.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!! I have purchased over 8 pair of 'minimalist' shoes in the past 3 years...none of them felt like walking barefoot to me......until now. Your leather is soft your soles are flat and my foot is relaxed!!!"

Janet in Asheville North Carolina.

"My entire experience with Softstar has been nothing short of an amazing experience from beginning to end. Will not buy any other shoes...my feet no longer hurt at all."

Julie M. Oak Park, Ilinois

"This shoe is exactly what you would hope it to be. High quality leather and workmanship in a simple, natural stance running shoes made of all natural materials. Glad I found them."

Wayne B. Ann Arbor Michigan

"I've never had shoes that have fit as well as these or received as many compliments… I wish I had found them sooner!"

Kirsten Q, Bolton Connecticut

"There are no other shoes like Softstar - strong, comfortable, pretty - the best choice of minimal shoes one can get. Thank you for making our lives easier and wonderful!"

Michal Haogen, Israel

"I am loving these shoes! They are just lovely to have on the feet. And I am not easily impressed... There's nothing on the market that I know of that allows full toe splay! To me, it's a beautiful thing to let the toes move with absolute freedom in the shoe. I cannot do that with ANY OTHER of the barefoot shoes."

Richard Megagrip Primal RunAmoc

"I spent SO MANY years searching for a shoe to fit my feet. At last, you have given me such a shoe! I am convinced that had I met this shoe 30 years ago, I would not have the deformed feet I have now, nor would I have had surgery done on one of them. Abundant thanks for this design that honors my feet."

Turtle Primal Sawyer

"These shoes are absolute perfection… The toe box finally allows my pinky toe and big toe to splay naturally and has taken away all previous foot pain… My feet will accept nothing less now."

Kris Primal Sawyer

"Finally something I will wear to work that is truly foot shaped… I usually take my shoes off as soon as I arrive home. I was so comfortable in these that I didn't think about it, and I left them on for hours into the evening."

Finn Primal Merry Jane

"These are fantastic. Softstar showed themselves as the best minimal shoe company on the market with these. Functionally, they are the best fitting shoes I own, and they are the most stylish."

Ashley Primal Merry Jane

"Blown away. These should be the standard. I work at a physio clinic and see multiple people come in with foot pain (bunions, flat feet, plantar fasciitis) and it's mostly because of the effects of improper footwear over time... These shoes are the perfect solution."

Saul Primal RunAmoc

"These are the best shoes I've ever owned. FINALLY A TOE BOX SHAPED LIKE A HEALTHY FOOT… I can wear my toe separators in these without any squishing or pressure against the sides of the shoe. Finally, finally, finally... someone prioritized function over form in creating a shoe that feels great to wear."

Ben Primal RunAmoc
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