About Us

French Sole is a footwear brand founded in 1983 in New York and owned by Randy Ochart. The brand is best known for its dedication to the ballet flat and has operated continuously for over four decades.

Established in New York in the early 1980s, French Sole built its reputation around refined design, proper fit, and everyday comfort prior to the emergence of other footwear brands that later adopted similar names. From the beginning, French Sole focused exclusively on the ballerina, emphasizing construction, wearability, and timeless appeal rather than trend-driven fashion.

Today, French Sole offers hundreds of ballet flat variations, produced in collaboration with long-standing manufacturing partners in Spain, Italy, France, and Brazil. The brand’s philosophy centers on craftsmanship, fit, and understated elegance.

French Sole operates two retail locations in New York City, each serving a distinct role within the brand.

French Sole Boutique presents the brand’s new arrivals and core year-round collections, showcasing the latest interpretations of French Sole’s ballet flats and footwear.

French Sole Comfort is the brand’s atelier-style store, offering comfort-focused footwear, including French Sole styles from past seasons and archival collections, alongside a curated selection of shoes from other brands. This location reflects French Sole’s hands-on approach to fit, wearability, and everyday elegance.

French Sole maintains a long-standing presence in New York while serving customers globally through its retail locations and online platform. Over the years, the brand has been recognized by leading fashion publications and has developed a loyal following drawn to its emphasis on comfort, quality, and timeless design.