Our Story
About Birchbury
Engineered for the modern minimalist, our footwear is a testament to precision design, offering you barefoot leather shoes that are comfortable on the first try.
Our journey began with a foundational belief: that footwear should not only be aesthetically pleasing but also natural-feeling and supportive of overall foot health.
Meet The Founder
Matt made the shoe he couldn't find
Matt grew up in California, where flip-flops let his feet spread out and behave like feet. Grown-up leather shoes were a rude surprise: narrow toe boxes, raised heels, and a full day of discomfort.
Barefoot shoes fixed the comfort problem almost immediately — but they brought their own: chunky shapes, loud logos, and a look that belonged on a hiking trail rather than in an office.
So he applied his mechanical engineering background to the gap in between. Barefoot comfort, regular-shoe looks, and full-grain leather you'd be happy to wear to work.
Matt
Founder, Birchbury
How We Got Here
The Birchbury Timeline
2019
The Bramford is designed
Birchbury's founder, Matt, designs the Bramford, our flagship sneaker — applying his mechanical engineering background to make it genuinely ergonomic.
2020
Bramford launches
Our first batch of 500 Bramfords pre-sells before it even arrives in the USA.
2021
Brenston launches
Our flagship dress shoe is an instant hit — the first batch of 1,000 pairs sells out in under a month.
2023
50,000 pairs on the ground
With two shoe models in the range, Birchbury becomes a stable, profitable business.
2024
Carnforth launches
We polled our customers on what to make next — a barefoot chukka boot was the clear answer.
2026
100,000 pairs worldwide
Three shoes in the range and 100,000 pairs sold worldwide — with New Zealand and Australia served from our local range.
Our Principles
The rules we build by.
01
Give toes actual space.
Feet are widest at the toes, so the front of the shoe should make room for that instead of forcing everything into a point.
02
Keep the heel level.
Zero-drop construction keeps the heel and forefoot at the same height so your foot can move more naturally.
03
Use grown-up materials.
Soft leather, clean finishes, and familiar silhouettes make the comfort easy to wear with the rest of your closet.
04
Cut the weird stuff.
No giant logos. No wacky panels. No “are those water shoes?” energy. Just regular-looking shoes with a lot more room inside.
In The Wild
Regular shoes, secretly comfortable
Changed into these for the reception. Life saver on the dance floor.
Dylan S.
Most comfortable shoe I've ever put on. Everything about it feels intentional.
Erika R.
I've big feet that need a big toe box and not look like I'm wearing canoes. Stylish and comfortable.
Jonathan C.
Used to hate weddings because dress shoes crushed my toes. Not anymore, thanks to Birchbury.
Ryan C.
THE COLLECTION
Barefoot Shoes for Every Occasion
Trusted Voices
What They're Saying
“This sneaker DOESN'T SQUISH your toes!”
“Very soft, comfortable, flexible leather.”
“These will fit in well with any wardrobe.”