Why and How Baby Bare Shoes Was Born
Hi everyone, my name is Pavlína, and my brand, Baby Bare Shoes, was founded in 2016.
At the end of 2014, my daughter Amélia was born. When she was 10 months old, she suddenly stood up one day and started walking all on her own. That’s when I started looking for her first pair of shoes so she could walk outside—not just at home, but on the playground too. When she tried "traditional shoes" for the first time, she refused to move and cried bitterly. Even when she managed to take a few steps across the apartment, she walked like an astronaut and immediately sat back down. That was the moment I realized this wasn't the right path; there had to be a different, more natural way.
Mothers on the "Modrý koník" forum (a local parenting site) introduced me to the concept of barefoot. So, I started searching for suitable shoes. Back then, however, there were no e-shops or specialized stores for barefoot footwear, so the search was incredibly difficult. I eventually decided to order shoes from abroad. When they arrived, both I and Ami were thrilled. And that’s where the idea to open a multi-brand barefoot store in Bratislava was born. It brought my first big business success—we had lines of customers outside the store every day. There I was, serving moms, giving advice, and measuring little feet with my baby daughter in a wrap, all while trying to navigate early motherhood.
Video of 10-month-old Ami’s first steps: : Ami standing and walking for the first time
ecause barefoot shoes were so hard to come by at the time and the demand in our store far exceeded the supply, the idea emerged: why not try to manufacture barefoot shoes in Slovakia under our own brand? This would allow us to ensure enough stock for our customers in our brick-and-mortar shop.
The beginnings were very challenging. I looked for manufacturers willing to take on barefoot production, even though most of them were completely unfamiliar with the technology at the time. Finally, I managed to find a small workshop in central Slovakia that gave my idea a chance—and that is where the story of Baby Bare Shoes began.
The Start of Production and First Successes
In the beginning, we tested first samples, sourced the right machinery, and developed our own "last"—the wooden or plastic form that is the foundation of every shoe. Its shape is the key to success because barefoot shoes must perfectly mimic the natural shape of a child's foot. Interestingly, we spent a long time collecting data in our store, measuring and tracing children's feet to find the ideal shape for the last. However, the final version is ultimately based on the shape of Amélia’s foot as it was back then.
We started with simple models that you still know today—Indoor/Outdoor, which were our very first shoes.
As interest in our shoes grew, we decided to invest in "cup soles," which was a massive expense—the development cost tens of thousands of Euros. This led to our first patented sole called FEBO, which we still use today for our Febo models, familiar to most of our customers.
(Photo: This is our very first prototype of today's FEBO WINTER models)
Highlights & Milestones
-
49 Heroines of Business: In 2019, my story was featured in the book 49 Heroines of Slovak Business, which captures the real journeys of women who built their own brands—without investors, without shortcuts, step by step.
- Slovak Businesswoman of the Year: In 2020, I was nominated for the Businesswoman of Slovakia award. Although I didn't win, my story made it to the final three in the "Exceptional Businesswoman" category.
- EY Entrepreneur of the Year: In 2025, the story of the Baby Bare Shoes brand reached the finals of the EY Entrepreneur of the Year – Slovakia competition. Being a finalist in such a prestigious competition confirmed to me that building Baby Bare Shoes—even when it's difficult—truly makes sense.
.
-
Interestingly, for many years, we only sold our shoes through our original e-shop (which carried other brands) and didn't have a dedicated website for Baby Bare Shoes. We also relied heavily on our wholesale partners worldwide. About three years ago, we launched a dedicated website, and now we finally have the e-shop www.babybareshoes.sk, where you are currently reading this article.
If you enjoyed this post and would like to see more behind-the-scenes content from Baby Bare Shoes, stay tuned to our blog! Soon, we’ll bring you a follow-up about our production process, our team, and other "inside" stories.