Paraboot

Paraboot was founded by Rémy-Alexis Richard in 1908 in Izeaux, France. In 1926, Richard traveled to the United States where he saw vulcanized rubber boots. He began incorporating rubber soles into his footwear after sourcing latex from the Brazilian port of Para, which formed the brand name "Paraboot."

During World War I, Richard worked repairing and building shoes for the French army. After the war, he purchased a factory in Izeaux to control the manufacturing process.

Paraboot introduced the "Michael" shoe in 1945, using a Tyrolean-style design suited to mountain terrain. This model became one of the brand’s core products.

The company legally declared bankruptcy in 1983 following financial difficulties in the early 1970s. Paraboot resumed growth by opening retail stores, starting in 1988.

Paraboot's production process involves over 150 manual operations for each pair of shoes. The company uses Norwegian and Goodyear welt construction methods in the assembly of its footwear.

In 2017, Paraboot moved its production to a new 11,000 square meter factory in Saint-Jean-de-Moirans. The company employs around 200 people and produces about 200,000 pairs of shoes each year.

Paraboot uses full-grain calfskin leather for its shoe uppers. The leathers are mainly sourced from French tanneries, with 77% of raw materials coming from France.

Since 1927, Paraboot has produced its own rubber soles in-house. This practice allows the company to manage the quality of its soles.

Paraboot produces several shoe models, including the Michael, introduced in 1945 as a Tyrolean-style shoe. The Chambord is a Derby shoe featuring a golf toe and distinctive stitching. The Avignon is a split toe Derby model. The Reims is a loafer with Norwegian-welt construction, and the Avoriaz is a hiking boot based on traditional designs.