A Note From Our Founder

Being in the footwear industry for the last 30 years I’ve seen things that my beloved industry does not do well. As someone who loves the ocean, it’s been a particular point of pain for me to see the staggering amount of waste - plastic waste in particular - that the industry creates. As the mother of a 16-year-old, doing something that has a deeper meaning is really important to me.  

A few years ago, my dear friend Stuart Jenkins (master innovator + founder of Blumaka) told me he was working on a cutting-edge new manufacturing concept that would dramatically reduce waste, taking top-quality scrap foam and repurposing it into high-performance products. I immediately saw its potential for flip-flops and beach sandals. After all, what better material to use for beach sandals than a material that protects the ocean by diverting plastic from the waste stream?  

There was just one problem: Stuart wasn’t ready to make shoes yet. He was still finessing his manufacturing and building his solar-powered factory. But once I had the idea in mind, I couldn’t let it go. So, I did what any good friend would do: I kept bugging him and bugging him and bugging him. And one day, about a year and a half ago, he called me to say he was ready if I was. Right then, FLEKS was born.

If you love your FLEKS, please tell your friends. And if you are inclined to share that love on social media, I would greatly appreciate it - after all, the more people we get to fall in love with FLEKS, the bigger the difference we can make. You can tag us at @fleksfootwear. Thank you for being a part of the journey. Together, let's make waves and flip the tide.  

With love and appreciation,

Leah Larson, FLEKS Founder