Who We Are
Imbuzi Goat Footwear was founded in 2019 by Michael Childes and his team of skilled artisans. Their mission is to create a proudly South African, sustainable slide sandal that is as kind to the environment as it is to your feet.
Our Story
Imbuzi Goat Footwear was born out of a passion to create the perfect pre and post-exercise slide sandal. The kind of sandal that you can slip your tired feet into after taking off your cycling cleats or running shoes post grueling race or brutal training session. Light as a cloud, supportive, supremely comfortable, and breathable. In short, heaven for feet.
And founder and designer, Michael Childes, knows all too well about the deep need for foot comfort. Not only is he a skilled shoemaker, but an incredibly accomplished mountain biker, having completed some of the most challenging races in the world (think Cape Epic and Trans Rockies in Canada to name a few). Needless to say, he needed a slide rugged enough to withstand the elements and comfortable enough to soothe his adventurous soles.
His 35+ years of shoemaking expertise and love of the natural environment means that Michael understands the importance of sustainability and ethical production. These deeply rooted values and his growing desire to explore a new frontier, cross a new barrier and create something both beautiful and functional all laid the foundations for Imbuzi Goat as we know it now.
How We Work
From the start, it was the team’s vision to create a sustainable, rugged, high-quality, and affordable slide that all South Africans (and anyone else!) could use and enjoy.
They identified locally sourced leather as the first material that embodies these values. Leather forms both the upper and the lining of the Goat. It’s buttery soft, changes with time, and exceptionally comfortable.
The Goat soles are made from PU (polyurethane) that is long-lasting, flexible, engineered to support the arch, and keep the toes in perfect balance – moulding to the shape of your foot over time. The PU soles are sun and water-resistant (in fact, they love the outdoors). But more than that, they’re biodegradable. So when it’s time to retire your Goats you know that you are doing so responsibly.
The Goat team works from a boutique factory in Cape Town, on custom-made machinery. Together, they have over 100 years of shoemaking experience and take pride in ensuring that each and every pair of Goat slides is handcrafted with care and attention to detail.
From the start, it was the team’s vision to create a sustainable, rugged, high-quality, and affordable slide that all South Africans (and anyone else!) could use and enjoy.
They identified locally sourced leather as the first material that embodies these values. Leather forms both the upper and the lining of the Goat. It’s buttery soft, changes with time, and exceptionally comfortable.
The Goat soles are made from PU (polyurethane) that is long-lasting, flexible, engineered to support the arch, and keep the toes in perfect balance – moulding to the shape of your foot over time. The PU soles are sun and water-resistant (in fact, they love the outdoors). But more than that, they’re biodegradable. So when it’s time to retire your Goats you know that you are doing so responsibly.
The Goat team works from a boutique factory in Cape Town, on custom-made machinery. Together, they have over 100 years of shoemaking experience and take pride in ensuring that each and every pair of Goat slides is handcrafted with care and attention to detail.