In 2012, longtime friends Roth Martin and Stephen Hawthornthwaite (“Hawthy”) found themselves at the height of their respective careers in finance and art, yet dreaming of a company to call their own—one fueled by their passion for apparel construction, design, and planet-friendly innovation. After spending hours on end talking all things fashion they saw a grand opportunity recognizing that footwear hadn’t yet caught up with the casualization of fashion.
Early on, Roth and Hawthy discovered the staggering amount of landfill trash generated by footwear construction, packaging, and the simple fact that casual shoes are hard to keep looking sharp and clean. Together, the two tirelessly worked through the complexities of shoe-making to develop a truly sustainable business from the ground up. Using thread made from recycled plastic bottles means that not only does each pair of shoes keep 20+ plastic bottles from a landfill, their knit construction keeps materials waste to a minimum. Building a fully owned and operated Rothy’s factory, where every single product is made, keeps the brand innovative and honest with ownership of every step of its product lifecycle. Now, with 12 retail locations and e-commerce shipping to the US and Canada, Rothy’s is known for designing, manufacturing, and selling products with purpose and intention.
The San Francisco-based brand introduced their popular men’s collection in 2021, nailing the art of forward-looking trends. Combining its materials innovations, including Rothy’s signature thread and algae-based foam footbeds, with premium natural materials such as hemp, wool, and natural rubber, allows Rothy’s to define sustainable footwear. And, bonus, they are exceptionally comfortable (trust us, we’ve tried them and we challenge you to find a more comfortable shoe)—with nearly no waste. This is, and should be, the future of footwear.
Curated by LEO, sponsored by
NAME: Roth Martin
CITY: San Francisco
COMPANY: Rothy’s
WHAT’S INSPIRING YOUR COLLECTION NOW:
In a word: travel. It’s been absent from our lives for nearly two years now, and we’re finding incredible inspiration in the joy and optimism that comes with getting back out in the world. No matter where our guys are headed this year, we’re committed to making product that looks good, feels good, and is good.
CURRENT MUSE:
Ryan Reynolds, in all his effortless glory, is frequently pinned up on our mood boards. He pulls off that exact blend of “sophisticated comfort” that we strive to create in our shoes. The ease of all his looks speaks to the versatility of our product—for example, our Driving Loafer works just as well with a linen suit for a summer wedding as it does with chinos and a casual button-down for a night out. Timelessness is key.
FAVORITE MUSIC TO DANCE TO IN ROTHY’S SHOES:
I could lie and say some up-and-coming band. Or I could just be honest and tell you that it’s Harry Styles, thanks to my four children.
DESTINATION FOR THE GUY WEARING YOUR SHOES:
I mentioned “sophisticated comfort” up above, and Nantucket embodies that ethos perfectly. Our shoes are fit for a bike ride to the beach just as much as they are a nice dinner at sunset. Versatility, comfort and effortless style are everything to us right now—especially in life after lockdown.
FAVORITE ACCESSORIES TO PAIR WITH THE COLLECTION:
Something personal to you. If I had to choose one, I would say a classic watch that you can dress up or down. A Rolex GMT II with a NATO strap comes to mind.
FAVORITE CLOTHING TO PAIR WITH YOUR SHOES:
A pair of well-worn denim (at least 12 months old) and a classic white button down keeps things crisp, cool and comfortable. I let my shoes have all the fun with color and print, and Rothy’s makes that easy.
CURRENT UNIFORM:
Summer is here and travel is back, which means you’ll often find me in the same look Monday through Friday: white chinos, a blue button-down and a playful pair of our Driving Loafers.
