ABOUT US
Rooted in South Africa.
Made for every Journey.
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.
ABOUT US
Rooted in
South Africa.
Made for every journey.
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.
ABOUT US
Rooted in
South Africa.
Made for every journey.
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
Crafted by hand.
Driven by purpose.
Imbuzi Goat Footwear was born out of a passion to create the perfect pre- and post-exercise slide sandal – the kind of sandal you can slip your tired feet into after taking off your cycling cleats or running shoes following a gruelling race or intense training session. Light as a cloud, supportive, supremely comfortable, and breathable. In short, heaven for your feet.
Founder and designer, Michael Childes, knows all too well the importance of foot comfort. Not only is he a skilled shoemaker, but also an incredibly accomplished mountain biker, having completed some of the most challenging races in the world, including the Cape Epic and the Trans Rockies in Canada, to name just a few. Needless to say, he needed a slide sandal rugged enough to withstand the elements and comfortable enough to soothe his hardworking feet.
With over 35 years of shoemaking expertise and a deep love for the natural environment, Michael understands the importance of sustainability and ethical production. These deeply rooted values, combined with his desire to explore new frontiers, push boundaries, and create something both beautiful and functional, laid the foundation for Imbuzi Goat Footwear as it is today.
OUR STORY
Crafted by hand.
Driven by purpose.
Imbuzi Goat Footwear was born out of a passion to create the perfect pre- and post-exercise slide sandal – the kind of sandal you can slip your tired feet into after taking off your cycling cleats or running shoes following a gruelling race or intense training session. Light as a cloud, supportive, supremely comfortable, and breathable. In short, heaven for your feet.
Founder and designer, Michael Childes, knows all too well the importance of foot comfort. Not only is he a skilled shoemaker, but also an incredibly accomplished mountain biker, having completed some of the most challenging races in the world, including the Cape Epic and the Trans Rockies in Canada, to name just a few. Needless to say, he needed a slide sandal rugged enough to withstand the elements and comfortable enough to soothe his hardworking feet.
With over 35 years of shoemaking expertise and a deep love for the natural environment, Michael understands the importance of sustainability and ethical production. These deeply rooted values, combined with his desire to explore new frontiers, push boundaries, and create something both beautiful and functional, laid the foundation for Imbuzi Goat Footwear as it is today.
OUR PROMISE
Kind to your feet.
Kind to the earth.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
Thoughtfully sourced materials that reduce our environmental impact.
HANDCRAFTED
WITH CARE
Made by skilled artisans who take pride in every detail.
SUPPORTING
OUR COMMUNITY
We create jobs and uplift local communities across South Africa.
BUILT TO LAST
Durable, timeless designs made for everyday adventures.
OUR PROMISE
Kind to your feet. Kind to the earth.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS
HANDCRAFTED
WITH CARE
SUPPORTING
OUR COMMUNITY
BUILT TO LAST
Thoughtfully sourced materials that reduce our environmental impact.
Made by skilled artisans who take pride in every detail.
We create jobs and uplift local communities across South Africa.
Durable, timeless designs made for everyday adventures.
HOW WE WORK
Every great journey begins with a purpose. Ours began with a simple idea: create the ultimate slide sandal.
From the very beginning, our vision has been to create a sustainable, rugged, high-quality, and affordable slide sandal that every South African (and anyone else!) can wear and enjoy.
We chose locally sourced leather because it perfectly reflects these values. It forms both the upper and the lining of every Goat slide, offering a buttery-soft feel that ages beautifully over time while providing exceptional comfort.
Our soles are made from PU (polyurethane), a durable and flexible material engineered to support the arch, keep your toes in perfect balance, and mould to the shape of your foot over time. They're both sun- and water-resistant (in fact, they love the outdoors!). Better still, they're biodegradable, so when it's time to retire your Goats, you can do so knowing you've made a responsible choice.
Every pair of Goat slides is handcrafted in our boutique factory in Cape Town using custom-made machinery. With more than 100 years of combined shoemaking experience, we take immense pride in creating footwear with exceptional care, precision, and attention to detail.
HOW WE WORK
Every great journey begins with a purpose. Ours began with a simple idea: create the ultimate slide sandal.
From the very beginning, our vision has been to create a sustainable, rugged, high-quality, and affordable slide sandal that every South African (and anyone else!) can wear and enjoy.
We chose locally sourced leather because it perfectly reflects these values. It forms both the upper and the lining of every Goat slide, offering a buttery-soft feel that ages beautifully over time while providing exceptional comfort.
Our soles are made from PU (polyurethane), a durable and flexible material engineered to support the arch, keep your toes in perfect balance, and mould to the shape of your foot over time. They're both sun- and water-resistant (in fact, they love the outdoors!). Better still, they're biodegradable, so when it's time to retire your Goats, you can do so knowing you've made a responsible choice.
Every pair of Goat slides is handcrafted in our boutique factory in Cape Town using custom-made machinery. With more than 100 years of combined shoemaking experience, we take immense pride in creating footwear with exceptional care, precision, and attention to detail.
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
Every pair tells a story of craftsmanship, commitment, and adventure.
SHOP NOWPROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
Every pair tells a story of craftsmanship, commitment, and adventure.
PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN
Every pair tells a story of craftsmanship, commitment, and adventure.
Why Imbuzi? Why Goat?
So, why Imbuzi? Why Goat? And what does it all mean?Michael's many mountain biking (mis)adventures earned him the name "Imbuzi"—the Zulu word for goat—from his shoemaking colleagues, who were often regaled with tales of his latest trail challenges. Before long, they affectionately dubbed him the Mountain Goat.
As it happens, GOAT also stands for Greatest of All Time (and we're not arguing with that). We believe Goat slides live up to the name—but don't just take our word for it.Order your pair today and experience the comfort of Imbuzi Goat Footwear for yourself.
