A letter from a reader Briar S
The slippers my tired feet sigh with relief to slip into.
On the orthopedic daily slippers that cushion every step, support the arch, and slip right on without bending down — the comfort of a house shoe, made to wear all day. Why a small South Carolina family made them this way, and why they're clearing them now.
I am 63 years old, and somewhere along the way my feet stopped forgiving me. By the afternoon they would ache, the arches especially, and I would kick off whatever I had on and pad around in flat, floppy house slippers that gave my feet nothing to stand on. Comfortable shoes looked orthopedic and clunky; the pretty ones hurt. And bending down to wrestle on anything with a back had become its own small ordeal.
What I wanted sounded simple and never seemed to exist: one easy pair I could slip on without bending, that actually cushioned and supported my feet all day, and that I would not be embarrassed to wear to the shops.
Then a woman in my church group here in Mount Pleasant told me her feet had stopped aching by supper, and pointed down at the neatest little slip-on wedge. I asked her about them. She laughed and told me to read the Clarke family's letter first.
The Clarke family runs a small boutique here in South Carolina, family-run since 1986 — three generations, mother to daughter. The slippers are called the Briar, and their letter walks through the handful of things they refused to compromise on. I am going to let their words carry it, because they say it better than I could.
1Support that eases every step
We built the Briar around a gently contoured footbed that cradles the arch and supports the foot the way a flat slipper never can. It takes the pressure off the parts that ache, so your feet feel held and easy, hour after hour.
2A cushioned wedge that softens every step
We set the footbed on a soft, cushioned wedge that absorbs the shock of each step and rolls you gently forward, so hard floors stop jarring your knees and hips. A little lift, a lot of cushion, and an easy, steady walk.
3Slip them on without bending down
We made them backless, so you step right in without bending, reaching, or fighting a heel over your foot. On your way out the door in a second, and off again just as easily — a small mercy that matters more every year.
4Three easy colors, for every day
We made the Briar in three easy, go-with-everything colors — a soft blue, a classic black and a warm taupe — and gave them a neat, tidy look, so they pass for a proper shoe. Comfortable enough for the house, presentable enough for the shops.
5Soft, warm, and roomy for the toes
We lined the footbed soft and cozy to cushion the sole and keep the chill off, and gave the toe a rounded, roomy shape with no pinching or rubbing — kind to wider feet, tender toes and tired days alike.
6A true, easy fit
We make the Briar in sizes 5 through 12 with a forgiving, easy fit — take your usual size. They are meant to fit your feet as they are today, and make standing, pottering and walking a comfort again.
The Briar, against the slippers you've been wearing
| The usual slipper | The Briar | |
|---|---|---|
| Support | Flat, gives nothing | A contoured, supportive footbed |
| Cushion | Thin, jars your knees | A soft cushioned wedge |
| Getting them on | Bending, or a shoehorn | Step right in, no bending |
| The look | Floppy, or clunky | Neat enough for the shops |
| The toes | Tight, or rubbing | Roomy, with no pinching |
- Flat, gives nothing
- Thin, jars your knees
- Bending, or a shoehorn
- Floppy, or clunky
- Tight, or rubbing
- A contoured, supportive footbed
- A soft cushioned wedge
- Step right in, no bending
- Neat enough for the shops
- Roomy, with no pinching
Why they're clearing them now
They priced the Briar at $139.95 when they launched, and they sold at that price all season. But for America's 250th, the Clarke family wanted to give something back to the women who have kept their doors open since 1986 — so every pair is going out at less than half of that.
I ordered mine that evening. They arrived a few days later in a kraft-paper parcel with a short handwritten note from the family. I have reached for them more than anything else in my closet since.
The Briar Slippers
- A contoured footbed that supports the arch
- A soft cushioned wedge that softens every step
- Backless — slip them on without bending down
- Soft, warm lining and a roomy, no-pinch toe
- Three colors, sizes 5–12 · free UPS · 30-day guarantee
The Briar Slippers · $54.95 while sizes last
Buy 2 get 10%, buy 3 get 15%, buy 4 get an extra 20% off. When they're gone, they're gone.
I do not usually write things like this. But my feet had ached by every afternoon for years, and I had made my peace with clunky or sore — and this one easy, cushioned pair gave me comfortable feet and a little dignity back at once. If that sounds like you, I hope you find your size before they clear.
— Sandra Thompson · Mount Pleasant, SC
See the Briar — $54.95 →This is a personal account from a Clarke Family customer. Sandra was not paid to write it. · The Clarke Family · Family Fashion · South Carolina, since 1986 · Free UPS shipping · 30-day money-back guarantee.