B Corp-certified, natural health footwear brand Vivobarefoot has recently opened a New York flagship store and is intent on expanding its store offer to consumers one step at a time, says Vivobarefoot Co-Founder & CEO Galahad Clark.
Tell us a little about Vivobarefoot
Galahad Clark: “Vivobarefoot is a B Corp-certified, natural health footwear brand on a mission to reconnect people with their natural potential. We believe the most advanced technology ever put into a shoe is the human foot itself. Yet modern footwear has increasingly disconnected us from how we are designed to move, over-cushioning, over-supporting, and reducing sensory feedback.
Our shoes are built on three core principles – natural fit, natural flex, and natural feel – allowing the foot to move as nature intended. This supports stronger feet, better movement and ultimately better health. Beyond product, we are building a regenerative business model. Through initiatives like ReVivo, our circular refurbishment programme, and VivoBiome, our scan-to-print footwear, we are working towards a system that restores both human and planetary health. We are not just a footwear company, we are a movement for reconnecting people to themselves, each other, and the natural world.”
How was this store concept conceived?
Galahad Clark: “Our retail spaces are designed as immersive education and experience hubs, not traditional stores. The New York concept builds on what we’ve learned from locations like London’s Covent Garden, where retail becomes a platform for connection, learning and transformation. The idea was to create a space where people can rediscover their feet.
Central to this is our barefoot assessment experience, where customers can understand their foot health, movement patterns and they also scan their feet if they would like to take part in made-to-measure programmes. The environment is intentionally minimal and tactile, bringing materials, textures and storytelling back to the forefront. We see retail as a cultural interface. It’s where science, community, and storytelling come together, through workshops, movement sessions and partnerships with local practitioners and creators. In a world of increasingly transactional retail, our stores are designed to be relational, spaces where people leave with a deeper understanding of their body, not just a product.”
With New York opened, what sort of locations are you looking for next?
Galahad Clark: “Our expansion strategy is focused on culturally relevant, high-footfall locations in global gateway cities, particularly across the US and key international markets. We prioritise neighbourhoods that align with our community: urban environments with strong connections to health, movement, creativity and outdoor culture.
Locations such as New York, Los Angeles, Austin and Miami are key focuses in the near term. We are also interested in hybrid retail models, spaces that can flex between store, studio and community hub. The physical footprint is less about scale and more about impact: the ability to host experiences, telling our story and building meaningful relationships. Ultimately, we look for landlords and partners who share a long-term vision, where retail is not just about sales per square metre, but about building ecosystems that support healthier people and a healthier planet.”
