Bearpaw
United States
Bearpaw is a US footwear brand founded in 2001 by Tom Romeo and based in Citrus Heights, California. It is best known for sheepskin boots and also makes slippers, hiking boots and sneakers.
| Founded | 2001 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Tom Romeo |
| Headquarters | Citrus Heights, California |
| Signature product | Sheepskin boots |
What is Bearpaw?
Bearpaw is a footwear, apparel and accessories brand for men, women and children, founded in 2001 by Tom Romeo. It is based in Citrus Heights, California, and its signature line is sheepskin boots.
Products and positioning
Beyond sheepskin boots, the range includes hiking boots, slippers and sneakers. In 2018 the brand began producing vegan boots made without sheepskin.
History
- 2010: Deckers Outdoor Corporation, owner of UGG Australia, sued over similar designs, and the parties settled in February 2012.
- 2011: Bearpaw opened its first retail store, in Citrus Heights.
- 2018: the brand acquired Flip Flop Shops from Cherokee Inc.
Why it matters
Bearpaw shows how a small US label built a business in the sheepskin boot category, then widened into vegan footwear and its own retail through store ownership. The brand sells for men, women and children, which makes it a family footwear label rather than a single-segment one, and its history includes a legal settlement with a much larger competitor that it concluded in 2012.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Bearpaw from?
Bearpaw is a US brand based in Citrus Heights, California.
What does Bearpaw sell?
Bearpaw sells sheepskin boots, slippers, hiking boots and sneakers, plus vegan boots introduced in 2018.