Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. has been producing and distributing the finest children’s footwear for over 90 years!

Founded in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania in 1928 by the brothers Norman and Paul Badorf, Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. was owned and operated by the Badorf family for almost 40 years.

In 1967, Badorf family friends Ura and Gladys Gingerich purchased the Company and the original West Lincoln Avenue shoe factory.

Over 50 years and three generations later, the Gingerich family tradition continues with Ura and Gladys’ son Duane Gingerich and Duane’s sons, Justin and Brandon Gingerich.

data-mce-fragment="1" href=" target="_blank" data-mce-href=" data-mce-fragment="1">Footmates shoes are designed to provide the best environment, support, and motion for all stages of your child's development. Best known for its' classic style of footwear, Footmates uses only the finest materials for its' high quality sandals, saddle shoes, english sandals, t-straps, mary janes and oxfords.

Historical Timeline:

• 1928-1968: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. operates as a private label production factory manufacturing products for existing footwear brands and large chain stores.
• 1968: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. launches the Footmates brand; the first company-owned private brand, specializing in high quality, leather, infant and toddler footwear.
• 1977: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. wins the “American Designer Award” from the Leather Industries of America, for the Footmates high-top infant bootie style “Todd”. Although having been updated throughout the years, the “Todd” is still available and one of the best-selling Footmates patterns year after year.
• 1987: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. is showcased on the children’s educational show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood”. The visit was part of a week-long series by the popular children’s show on the subject of “dance”. The show consisted of a factory tour and in-depth description of the technical operations of children’s footwear manufacturing. (Mister Rogers' Neighborhood 1987 Episode 3)
• 2000: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. partners with the popular European brand, RICOSTA of Germany. This marks the first distribution partnership for Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. RICOSTA is one of Germany’s largest manufacturers of children’s shoes and due to the brand’s commitment to producing the highest-quality, fitted footwear, was a natural fit for Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. is the exclusive distributor of RICOSTA in the United States of America.
• 2006: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. partners with Tsukihoshi of Japan. Tsukihoshi is a brand from one of the oldest and largest children’s shoe suppliers in Japan, having been producing footwear since 1873. Tsukihoshi was one of the first “functional” children’s specific athletic brands in the US, offering styles where each item is machine-washable, ultra-lightweight, and features removable-green tea extract deodorizing insoles. This functionality and the brand’s vibrant color combinations effectively changed the US market. Tsukihoshi remains one of the leading brands in children’s athletics today.
• 2016: Badorf Shoe Company, Inc. transitions to becoming the exclusive Authorized Sales Agent, third party logistics and wholesale customer service provider for Tsukihoshi in the United States of America.