From Little Feet to Big Adventures: 40 Years of Softstar
It all started in July 1985, when our founder Tim Oliver and his wife Jeanie stitched up a pair of soft leather shoes for their daughter, Corina. What began as a labor of love quickly turned into something much bigger. Just a short time later, they packed up a batch of their handmade creations and headed to an art festival in Laguna Beach, California, where the shoes were sold under the Softstar name for the first time.
Now, 40 years later (yes, forty!), we're still handcrafting shoes with that same spirit of care, creativity, and adventure. This month, we’re celebrating four decades of happy feet, heartfelt stories, and the incredible community that’s helped us grow every step of the way.
At first, it was all about kids' shoes. But before long, their adult friends started asking, “Hey, can we get a pair too?” So Tim made the first adult moccasins, and that’s when things really started to grow. From the early days of rubber sole requests, to making it through a pandemic, to the wild ride of launching our best-selling style yet, what a journey it’s been. And through every twist and turn, we’ve felt your support. Softstar started with just two dreamers sewing shoes in a converted school bus. Today, we’re crafting barefoot magic in a 12,000 square foot workshop with over 30 amazing elves. Here’s to 40 years of growth, gratitude, and comfy shoes.
To celebrate, we're taking it back to where it all began: the beloved Roo Moccasin. Named after founder Tim and Jeanie's daughter, these soft-soled classics were among the very first shoes they ever made, and nearly 40 years later, they’re still going strong. In honor of our roots, we’re giving away one pair of Roo Moccasins every week throughout July! Enter the giveaway below, and you just might win a piece of Softstar history.
History of Softstar Shoes
For those of you who are unfamiliar with Softstar's history, check out our timeline infographic. Thank you for a wonderful 40 years!
Trouble reading the infographic? Click here to open it as a PDF.
Anna joined the Softstar team in 2022 approximately a year after graduating from Oregon State University with a dual degree in Marketing and Management. She grew up on a local, rural farm and her passions include exploring the Oregon outdoors, traveling, sports, and playing instruments.