Our Story

Kiwi Sandals began in 1963 with a simple idea: make sandals that feel good, last a long time, and stay true to the way they were meant to be worn. Founder Lee Risler grew up barefoot whenever possible, drawn to the freedom of open air and natural movement. When he couldn’t find sandals that fit the way he wanted, he started making his own—by hand, shaped from real feet, guided by feel rather than trends.

What started as a few handmade pairs quickly found a following at local art festivals and street fairs, where people lined up not just to buy sandals, but to talk, to share stories, and to come back year after year. Lee refined his designs and fit through thousands of real foot tracings, learning exactly where straps should sit and how leather should move. Over time, those early experiments became ten original styles—nearly unchanged since the 1960s, because they worked.

Rhett Risler grew up in the workshop. Some of his earliest memories are sweeping floors, cutting leather, and wearing nothing but his dad’s sandals. As a teenager, he learned the craft firsthand, eventually realizing that what he once thought he’d leave behind was something worth protecting. Rhett took over the business with a deep respect for the process, the tools, and the people who trusted Kiwi Sandals with their hard-earned money.

For decades, Kiwi Sandals remained something you had to discover—at a street fair, an arts festival, or through a friend who wouldn’t stop talking about them. One of those people was Dave Stockham, whose family became loyal customers after finding Kiwi Sandals at the Park City Arts Festival. He loved how they formed to his feet, how they only got better with time, and how much care went into every pair.

In 2022, after years of building a relationship with the Risler family, Dave became the new owner of Kiwi Sandals. His mission was simple: bring Kiwi Sandals online so more people could experience them—without changing a thing. Same styles. Same materials. Still handcrafted using the same processes Lee developed all those years ago.

Today, Kiwi Sandals are still made by hand, with Lee and Rhett continuing to work out of the Lucerne shop where it all began. In 2025, Dave opened a second workshop in Salt Lake City to help meet growing demand, carrying the craft forward while honoring its roots. Sixty years on, Kiwi Sandals remain what they’ve always been: timeless, original, and made to feel just right.

Classic Originals Since 1963.