As shoemakers, we love traditions and lore that center around shoes. Saint Nicholas Day is one such tradition, and it’s coming up on December 6. This holiday has evolved into many modern-day forms, but the traditional custom is to set shoes out the evening before St. Nick’s Day so they’ll be filled with little gifts and treats in the night...

"You are how you move." ~ Katy Bowman If you're a regular follower of our blog, then you already know we're big fans of Katy Bowman. The renowned author and biomechanist has helped many people restore movement to their daily routines to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. Katy has become a good friend to the Softstar crew over the...

UPDATE: Congratulations to Elke from Blodgett, Oregon! She was randomly selected as the grand prize winner of this contest. Be sure you're subscribed to our email newsletter and following us on Instagram to learn about future giveaways!   Amazing things happen when talented makers team up, especially when those makers hail from small American companies with a passion for fine leather...

Explore the "Colorful" Origins of This Ancient Spring Tradition (Photo By: Asier Sarasua Aranberri) We really love Mother Nature here in the Pacific Northwest, and many of us at the workshop have experienced at least one colorful, springy, May Day celebration. It’s hard not to be charmed by the adorable spectacle of happy little children dancing and weaving colorful ribbons around a...

Why I Changed Careers for a Family-Friendly Workplace It has been five years now since I officially joined the Softstar Shoes family. Those are five years during which I have been able to bring my own family into work with me, for odd school holidays, snow days, or when they just needed extra “mama time.”  My two daughters have always...

We're giving away 3 pairs of colorful custom kids' shoes PERFECT for spring... enter below! Winter, your days are numbered! Chase away those cold-weather blues and welcome spring with these gorgeous and totally unique shoes for your little one. These special edition Classics in bright Peacock and Yellow leather feature an absolutely precious baby chick bursting from a hand-painted egg—an...

Scrap the wrapping waste with these incredible, sustainable, Japanese-inspired gift wrapping ideas! It's hard to think of the holiday season without calling to mind images of mysterious boxes wrapped in festive, shiny paper and bows. In fact, we don't even stop at gifts any more, wrapping front doors, framed pictures, and even cars to resemble fun gifty surprises. Unfortunately, this...