Legacy Meets Longevity: A United Step Forward for Made-in-USA Footwear

Softstar Shoes Acquires SOM Footwear

PHILOMATH, Ore., Aug. 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tucked away in the lush Willamette Valley of Oregon, Softstar Shoes has been handcrafting barefoot-inspired footwear since 1985 – all designed and made in the USA. This year, as they celebrate 40 years of business, they are also marking another milestone: the acquisition of Sense of Motion (SOM) Footwear.

SOM has been handmaking outdoor minimalist footwear in Montrose, Colorado for over a decade. Led by its founder Olie Marchal and his closeknit team, SOM styles are known for their minimalist comfort and rugged durability that can take you from everyday endeavors to challenging terrain and high-intensity training.

After years of building a beloved brand, SOM founders Olie and Natalie have decided to embark on new adventures, focusing on their passions for endurance running and travel. As they pass the torch, the made-in-USA legacy of SOM will live on through Softstar.

"We're proud to bring the SOM Footwear brand under the Softstar umbrella. This acquisition allows us to preserve what made SOM special while offering their designs to a wider audience through our platform. It's a natural extension of our mission to support healthy footwear and ethical manufacturing"

– Keita Beard, Chief Operations Officer at Softstar

Softstar has re-launched two of SOM's popular styles – the Mesa (previously named the Briquette) and the Graciano, available for purchase August 19, 2025. Like all of Softstar's models, these casual minimalist sneakers feature a flexible build and zero-drop soles that encourage healthy foot function. Shop the Mesa and Graciano exclusively at Softstar.com.

Softstar Shoes is a certified B Corp that has been designing and handcrafting minimal leather footwear in the USA since 1985.

Contact:
Anna Lammers
[email protected]
541-753-5845
Softstar Shoes
Philomath, OR 97370

Photos to include:

Link: https://www.softstarshoes.com/adult-shoes/som.html

SOURCE Softstar Shoes