Rothy’s designs and sells women's footwear — best-known for its rounded and pointed ballet flats — along with loafers and newer sneaker styles. The shoes are made from recycled materials (including water bottles) and are machine washable, positioned as eco-conscious comfort. The company has leaned heavily on direct-to-consumer marketing, notably large Facebook and Instagram campaigns, and has attracted high-profile wearers such as Meghan Markle. Rothy’s operates a 100,000-square-foot factory in China and employs roughly 500 people, including about 50 in the Bay Area. Financially, the company told Bloomberg it expects slightly more than $140 million in revenue this year, which an outlet estimated equates to roughly 1.4 million pairs sold. Competitive pressures include copycat products; the company is suing at least one rival for allegedly imitating its design. Rothy's sells online-only, knitted women's flats produced from recycled plastic water bottles. The product line currently includes two silhouettes (rounded and pointed toe) and about 20 patterns, all knit on car-size machines. The company owns a 65,000-square-foot factory in southern China with roughly 100 employees and says it has reused more than five million plastic bottles in production. Shoes are washable, durable, and can be recycled via a take-back program with partner Plusfoam; the founders also give to environmental causes such as the Ocean Cleanup Project though they do not specify a fixed donation percentage. Rothy's reports being profitable since the beginning and says demand has outstripped expectations, prompting the company to add knitting machines and maintain short, nimble production cycles (purchase orders are written 15 days out). The company is focused on direct-to-consumer sales only and plans to continue investing in its fiber technology while taking a disciplined approach to expanding categories.

Total raised

$40M

Funding rounds

2

Latest round

Equity

Latest activity

Dec 2018