About Us | 13 HIPPÖ

Our Story...

Rope sandals weren't invented in a cluttered suburban garage in Seattle or in the dark shadowy depths of Silicon Valley. Truth be told they were created in one of the least suspecting places on Earth. Here is the serendipitous story of how Ian Stewart first encountered rope sandals and their mysterious origins.

The year was 2018. Spring was upon us. The yet to be founder of 13 HIPPÖ, was growing tired of staring out of the window from his office cubicle. He was bored of the 9 to 5 grind and how mundane his life was becoming.

Laying naked on a beach with rope sandals

In pursuit of happiness, Ian decided to quit his job and embark on a spontaneous road trip across North America. While on this journey he stumbled upon a hippie community in the middle of nowhere USA. The community itself was located in a secluded area of Missouri, hidden deep into the Ozark Mountains.

He decided to stay amongst the hippies for a period of 21 days where he worked in exchange for food and accommodations. It was at this isolated community that Ian first discovered rope sandals and learned the lost art of making them by hand.

After returning home to Canada, Ian started the long and challenging process of setting up a sandal workshop in his basement. After it was complete, he continued to practice and hone his newfound skills.

Over the next few weeks he eventually mastered the art of making rope sandals and began to sell them to his close friends and family. Word quickly traveled and he found himself making rope sandals on a full-time basis to keep up with the demand.

Recognizing the popularity of rope sandals, Ian decided that it would be in his best interest to create a legitimate business. After a many days of contemplation, 13 HIPPÖ was born.

The word 'HIPPÖ' represents the name of his rope sandals because you can wear them on land or in the water. Whereas, the number '13' represents our socially responsible side where 13% of every sale gets donated towards reforesting the planet.

Our Mission

Our mission is to inspire people from all walks of life to break free from their everyday routines and go experience what the world has to offer. This could be as simple as a weekend getaway or something as crazy as boarding a flight to an unknown destination. We want to encourage people to live in the PRESENT by consistently getting out of their comfort zones and experiencing new things. Of course, we also want them to bring their HIPPÖs along for the ride. That way they act as a constant reminder of where you have been and all the adventures you have been on.

So go on, put on a pair of HIPPÖs and step into your adventure!