Paraboot

The very beginnings of Paraboot were born in 1908 in the Chartreuse mountains of eastern France. Rémy-Alexis Richard, a shoemaker with aspirations beyond the hardy alpine footwear market, was making dainty, leather-soled shoes for the Parisian élite. But after witnessing the potential of rubber - at that time, a new technical material - on a 1926 trip to the US, he brought it back to France with the idea of fitting classic leather uppers with cleated rubber soles. The next year, Paraboot, named for Para, the Amazonian rubber port, was born.  As the Great Depression kicked in and World War II began the market for premium, expensive hand made footwear was disappearing. Post war Consumers preferred cheaper, more mass produced goods. But new boss Julien, son of Remy Richard, decided to double-down on high-grade materials and design a few pairs of "light-duty" shoes targeted specifically at white-collar guys that spent a lot of time on their feet. Architects, surveyors, veterinary surgeons, and the like. Enter the birth of the iconic Michael shoe. In 2025 Paraboot is the definition of the post sneaker shoe brand of choice. No celebrity ambassadors, no garish social media campaigns, just a no-nonsense gallic charm. The collection is split into four pleasingly brusque pillars: business, casual, sportswear and outdoor. Amazing quality shoes made in Europe that will last forever. If you have one pair of shoes in your wardrobe, make sure it’s Paraboot.