About us
We are a family-owned company producing high-quality barefoot footwear in eastern Slovakia, and this is our story.
So, how did it all begin? We came into contact with barefoot shoes like most families – our daughter started wearing them first because we wanted the best footwear for her healthy development. Curious about what our child was wearing, we soon started wearing barefoot shoes ourselves. It was a peculiar feeling to wear shoes that didn't require breaking in or enduring discomfort until the leather loosened, shoes that didn't squeeze, deform, or compress your toes. Once you experience such comfort, you never want to go back. You realize that the "normal" shape of shoes no longer appeals to you. However, you still want to look good and have your shoes as a fashionable piece, not just a functional necessity.
And here was the stumbling block: Over the years, we searched for new brands that offered the most comfortable footwear, respected the anatomical shape of the foot, had flexible soles, and were made from high-quality materials with beautiful craftsmanship. We were also interested in the origin of the shoes – where they were manufactured and the materials used. However, we couldn't find any that precisely matched our vision. In 2020, we had a clear vision – we would manufacture barefoot shoes ourselves: quality, elegant, comfortable, and functional shoes. But truly on our own – not just creating a brand and design, but manufacturing them in our own production and taking responsibility for our people, helping to develop local employment where it is most needed.
We decided to leave our positions in large corporate companies and organizations, acquired knowledge in the field of shoemaking, and fully immersed ourselves in the development of barefoot shoes under our own brand, Antal. We chose the town of Medzilaborce in northeastern Slovakia, near the borders of Poland and Ukraine, where Rado comes from. We selected this location because eastern Slovakia has a rich shoemaking tradition and is one of the least developed and poorest regions in the EU. Medzilaborce has an unemployment rate of nearly 13%! So, we established our production on a "greenfield" and provided much-needed jobs in this area (and with your support, we believe there will be even more!).
Antal shoes s.r.o. was founded as a social enterprise with the primary goal of actively participating in the development of the community and the region by reinvesting its profits within the company – actively taking STEPS towards regional development.
=> So, by purchasing our high-quality products, you can also experience the satisfaction of contributing to a good cause. <=
We carefully select and purchase all materials from verified suppliers within the EU. We strive to collaborate with local suppliers in the vicinity of our production, reducing carbon footprint by shortening material transportation routes.
Our leather meets stringent standards, from the origin of the material to environmentally friendly energy and water consumption, emissions, noise, waste management, storage of chemicals, workplace health and safety, fair working conditions, and more. For other materials, we focus on certified recycled materials that are both functional and durable. We even use recycled materials for threads, laces, and packaging boxes. We truly pay attention to every detail!
Thanks to our in-house production and warehouse, we can ensure fast delivery for both initial orders and reorders. The entire production process, including research, development, warehousing, logistics, and sales, is under one roof, speeding up the delivery time for our business partners and end customers.