A Founder Confession by Tiago
Q: Let’s start simple. How did BAREBOUND really begin?
Honestly? By necessity.
I wanted barefoot shoes that I actually liked. Not “okay”. Not “good enough”. Really liked. And they didn’t exist.
At first it wasn’t even about me. We were trying to find cool barefoot shoes for kids to sell, and we couldn’t find anything that felt right. Everything looked boring and safe.
So one day I just said, “Fuck it, I’ll make them myself.”
We created the kids model. It worked. It grew fast. And then I looked at it and thought, “Wait… I want this for me too.” I was jealous of my own product. So I decided to create adult shoes. And that’s when BAREBOUND really started.
Q: A lot of people imagine running a brand as something glamorous. Is it?
Not at all.
People think it’s peaceful. Creative. Cool. But most of the time it’s doing the same things again and again. Solving problems. Making decisions. Carrying stress. Supporting crazy ideas. Trying to make everything work. And still trying to have fun with the people you work with.
It’s not glamorous. It’s work.
Q: What’s the part nobody sees?
Accounting. Bookings. Numbers. Cash flow.
Making sure we don’t die as a business tomorrow. Nobody posts that on Instagram. But that’s the reality.
Q: Have you ever thought about quitting?
Never. Not once. Because BAREBOUND is not just a business for me. It has a purpose. It’s about helping people grow. Helping them feel better. Helping them be more confident and more themselves.
You don’t quit something like that.
Q: Why barefoot shoes? Why did you care so much about this?
Because I saw the difference in my own body.
Less pain. Less stress. More energy. Better sleep. Everything changed. And I realised barefoot shoes are just the beginning. It’s not only about wide shoes and thin soles. It’s about creating a better body and a better mind, starting from your feet.
It’s a movement.
Q: When people say “So… you sell shoes?”, what do you think?
I always smile. Because honestly, I think we don’t sell anything.
We give people something. We give them permission to be themselves. To take care of their body. To take risks. To grow. To have fun doing it.
BAREBOUND is not about shoes. It’s about boldness.
Q: What does “being bold” really mean to you?
It’s not quotes on Instagram. It’s real life.
It’s going for a walk in the rain and not caring. It’s going to the beach at 11am just to feel the water on your feet, even if that means working until 11pm later. It’s losing a lot of money and time in prototypes because they’re not good enough for your people.
That’s being bold.
Q: What kind of people do you want wearing BAREBOUND?
The givers.
People who give more than they take. People who do their best when nobody is watching. People who care about others. People who want a better world, even if that means going against what’s normal.
That’s our community.
Q: Everyone knows Ana is important. How important is she really?
Let’s be honest. She’s like 95% of this business. She takes care of everything.
I’m just the goofy guy with a crazy plan. Without her, nothing works. That’s the truth.
Q: What was your biggest mistake so far?
Not starting earlier. I lost two or three years. Two or three years of energy and momentum. That hurts. But it also pushes me every day.
Q: Where do you want BAREBOUND to be in the future?
Not as a big shoe company. I want it to be an environment for bold people. A place where you can be yourself. Take care of your body. Care about others. Grow. Have fun.
That’s the vision.
Q: What scares you about growing bigger?
Losing connection. Stopping caring deeply about each person. Turning into just another brand. If that happens, we failed.
Q: Finally, what would you say to someone who is afraid to take a risk?
If you care deeply about something, and you believe it’s right for you and for others, just go for it. Be bold. You have nothing to lose.
Boldness is not about being crazy. It’s about doing what you believe is right, even when others don’t agree.
Q: One last sentence. Finish this: “I didn’t create BAREBOUND to be…”
…I didn’t create BAREBOUND to be just a shoe brand. I created it to be a movement.
And we’re only getting started.
