Our Story

FROM OUR FOUNDER

Hi, I'm Evan Ritt. You might be wondering how I got here, and it's a good question. I never went to fashion school, I'm not a podiatrist, and I certainly never designed a shoe before this.

My story is inextricably linked to one of my greatest passions: hockey. With the support of many others, I played two seasons professionally and was an NCAA Division I National Champion with my hometown school, the University of Denver.

Playing pro, my body felt like it was falling apart, and I spent the majority of both seasons on the injured reserves. In my journey back to health, I realized that instead of becoming an invincible warrior, my career of specialized training had made me more of a house of cards.

Fast forward to today, three years removed from playing, my body is healthier than it has ever been. My mobility is returning, my serious injuries have all healed, and I'm looking forward to a long and healthy life.

Rehabbing my own body has taught me that all of our bodies, after millions of years of evolution, have developed patterns, and if you want to live a healthy life you need to be aware of these laws of nature.

Modern footwear (especially athletic footwear), that 99% of the population is wearing, is misaligning our bodies and creating unnatural movement patterns. The result is a population-wide epidemic of foot, ankle, knee, hip, and low back issues (to name a few).

Through my own experience and the experience of many others (including numerous scientifically backed studies) - it is clear that spending more time barefoot and in barefoot shoes, your body will quickly and happily adapt. It will correct asymmetries and resolve unnecessary pain that is drawing your energy and attention.

My hope is that instead of wasting your energy on pain and discomfort, you can instead use it to the benefit of your family, friends, art, career.

I believe the best way to change the world is to start by aligning yourself. I hope Tolos can help you build a strong foundation to support your goals.

Thanks for the support and until I hear from you next: down with big shoe.

To your health!

- Evan