Footloose
Footloose is a Peruvian footwear retailer founded by Miguel Angel Vergara Rubin, who opened the first store under the name Passarela in central Lima in 1997. It sells trainers, sandals and children's footwear through around 130 stores in Peru, online and in Ecuador.
| Founded | 1997, Lima |
|---|---|
| Founder | Miguel Angel Vergara Rubin |
| Former name | Passarela (until 2020) |
| Stores | Around 130 in Peru, 4 in Ecuador |
| Website | footloose.pe |
What is Footloose?
Footloose is a Peruvian footwear brand and retailer. It began in 1997 when Miguel Angel Vergara Rubin opened a shoe shop called Passarela in the centre of Lima; the company Inversiones Rubin's S.A.C. was set up in 1999. The business adopted the Footloose name in 2020.
History
The founder's children, Luz Valeria, Susana Yvette and Miguel Alejandro Vergara Lock, have taken on strategic roles. The company added catalogue sales in 2007 and e-commerce in 2017, and opened its first store in Ecuador in 2023.
Products and positioning
Footloose sells sports footwear, sandals and children's products, plus a men's line. Its 2CHANGE trainers are made with shiringa latex as a more sustainable option.
Distribution
- Around 130 physical stores in Peru
- Four stores in Ecuador
- E-commerce, catalogue sales and B2B channels
- Plans to enter Bolivia through franchising
Why it matters
Footloose shows how a single Lima shoe shop grew into a family-run national chain that combines stores, catalogue selling and online retail, and is now exporting its format to neighbouring Andean markets.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Footloose from?
Footloose is from Peru. It started as the Passarela shoe shop in central Lima in 1997.
Who founded Footloose?
Footloose was founded by Miguel Angel Vergara Rubin, and his children now hold strategic roles in the company.