Hey there! Ever wondered what happens when friends with questionable decision-making skills decide to start a shoe company? Pull up a chair, this one’s for you.

It all started in a snowstorm on top of Finland’s tallest mountain, with a group of friends, a camper van, and a slightly wild idea. Turns out, freezing your toes off in Lapland is a great way to start thinking seriously about comfortable shoes.

Our founding team, Tammy and Ludo from Malibu, and Minna and Kalle from Finland, were friends on an adventure when Ludo, our resident ‘shoe dog,’ started sketching what would become our first design, the ZUMA Linen. Hannu, with his extensive international business experience, joined shortly after to complete our Founding Fab Five.

Our friends believed in the vision enough to invest actual money, so we thought, “How hard could running a company be?” Turns out, pretty challenging, but in the best possible way.

We headed to Portugal to find artisans who could turn our wild ideas into reality. We partnered with a family-run factory that shares our values of quality craftsmanship and sustainable production methods. By summer 2020, the first VIBAe shoes hit the streets, and now we have sold to over 275,000 comfort-loving people in more than 150 countries. To you too? If not, we should fix that.

VIBAe, which means ‘vibe’ in Finnish, is a feeling we try to bottle in every shoe. The little “e” stands for ergonomic, ecological, ethically made, but also effortless, easy, and especially for you and your feet. We are steadfast in our original mission: creating quality footwear that is kind to your feet and the planet, all while refusing to take ourselves too seriously.

Life is too short to walk in shoes that don't love your feet back, don't you agree?