More Than a Factory Tour
Paraboot
Last week, HHV had the privilege of visiting the legendary Paraboot factory — a name synonymous with craftsmanship, innovation, and Alpine heritage. What we witnessed went far beyond footwear; it was a step into a living history, built over four generations.
Each Paraboot shoe goes through an astonishing 150-step process, a testament to the brand’s commitment to quality and detail. As we traced the journey from raw leather to finished product, we also retraced the footsteps of Rémy-Alexis Richard, who founded the brand in 1878 with a vision of blending mountain-ready functionality with urban sophistication.
Rémy began in a modest Alpine workshop, soon leveraging his ingenuity and the support of his wife Juliette to grow the brand through wartime and beyond. With innovations like rubberized soles inspired by American trends and the creation of notched treads for improved mountain performance, Paraboot set new standards in durable, stylish footwear. In fact, Rémy’s techniques predated even the famed Vibram soles.
By 1927, Paraboot was officially born, its name inspired by the Amazonian port from which latex was shipped. The now-iconic “Michael” shoe debuted in 1945, becoming the cornerstone of the brand’s success and saving it once again decades later when Michel Richard steered the company through economic turbulence in the 1980s.
Today, Paraboot remains one of the rare French footwear brands to oversee every stage of production in-house, upholding its legacy in modern forms, from Parisian boutiques to global collaborations.
Our visit wasn’t just a factory tour — it was an encounter with living heritage. From handcrafted precision to generational resilience, Paraboot continues to shape the future by honoring its past.
