Rothy's Shoes: Knit Flats, Loafers and Mary Janes Worth Knowing

Rothy's Shoes: Knit Flats, Loafers and Mary Janes Worth Knowing

A look at Rothy's shoes, the San Francisco brand that knits its uppers from recycled water bottle thread. I go through the flats, the loafers and drivers, and the Mary Janes, clogs, sneakers and sandals.

Rothy's says it was founded in 2012, when Roth Martin saw a gap for a stylish women's flat and pitched the idea to his friend Stephen Hawthornthwaite. The first shoes were not sold until 2016, which tells you the two of them spent a long stretch getting the making right before anyone could buy a pair. They set up in Dongguan, China, in 2015, and today the company is headquartered in San Francisco.

 

That patience is the whole reason I find Rothys shoes interesting. The uppers are knit from a thread made from recycled plastic water bottles, and each shoe is knit to shape, so the finished upper has no seams. Rothy's says it has turned over 100 million single-use plastic water bottles into shoes, bags and accessories. I am a skeptic about sustainability claims, so I will say only this: it is a specific, checkable idea, and the shoes look like they come from it.

 

The brand really took off in 2018, when Meghan Markle was seen in The Point, a modern pointed flat that can be dressed up or down. That is still the heart of the line, and you can see it in the first grid, which opens with slingbacks and moves into the pointed flats. The Point III Ballet Flats are the clean, pointed version I would wear with straight jeans and a white shirt. The Bow Point II Flats and The Knot Point II Flats add a small detail at the toe, enough to dress up a plain black trouser without going fussy.

 

The Almond Slingback Flats and The Almond Mesh Slingback Flats are my pick for a slip dress, since the open heel keeps the outfit light. The d'Orsay Pointed Flats and D'Orsay Espadrille Flats cut low across the foot, which lengthens the line of a cropped trouser. Max Velvet Ballet Flats are the evening option, and the newer square and almond toes, The Daily Flat in black, The Almond Ballet in ReVelvet Portobello Captoe, The Max Square Ballerina in ReVelvet Black and The Max Square in Off White Mesh, round out the grid. Rothy's says its products are machine washable and built to last for years, but check the care label on the exact style before you toss anything in.

A collage of Rothy's pointed flats, driver loafers, Mary Jane flats, clogs and sandals, and a mood photo of a chambray shirt, cream wide leg jeans and dark ballet flats.
Rothy's flats, loafers, Mary Janes and clogs, laid out together.

Flats

Loafers you can run errands in

The second grid is where Rothy's goes from ballet territory into something more like menswear. A loafer or a driver is a hard shoe to get right in a knit, and I think this is where the brand's point of view shows most. Nothing here is trying to be a leather shoe. It is a different material doing the same job, and it does it with its own character.

 

The Daily Driver Loafers are the ones I would start with. They have a low, easy shape that looks right with rolled jeans and a gray sweatshirt, or with a trench over a pair of pleated trousers. The Double Bit Driver Loafers and Double Bit Loafers are the ones with the double bit in the name, a small detail that makes a casual shoe read as put together. Hold the two next to each other and decide how much shine you want near your ankle.

 

The Penny Loafer Flats are the most classic shape in the group, and the newer pairs widen it: The Daily Loafer in black, The Almond Loafer in black, The Cruiser Loafer in ReVelvet Russet and The Block Heel Loafer in ReVelvet Dark Herringbone, plus The Driver Moc, The Après Loafer Mule and The Double Bit Loafer Mule. The Penny Clog in ReVelvet Portobello gives the same shape a clog sole. I like wearing them with white socks and a short hem so the whole idea comes through. ReVelvet Penny Loafer Mules take the same shoe and drop the back, which makes them better for a warm afternoon and a long skirt.

 

The Driver Flat is the quiet one, a clean shape that disappears under a wide-leg trouser. The Boat Shoe Flats play with a sailing reference, and I would pair them with striped knitwear and straight-leg denim without apologizing for it. The Daily Leopard Loafers are the loud one, a low slip-on in a leopard knit, and I would wear them with black trousers and a gray sweater so the print gets the room to itself. A quick fitting-room test for all of these: walk the length of the room and listen for any heel slipping. A loafer that moves when you walk will annoy you by noon.

Loafers, drivers, mules and clogs

Mary Janes, clogs and a few curveballs

The third grid is where the line gets playful. The Ivy Knit Retro Sneakers are the shoe I would reach for with a tennis skirt or loose khakis, and The Ivy Sneaker in ReVelvet Cheetah and The Original Slip On Sneaker in Latte are the other sneakers in the grid. The retro shape is low and clean, and it lets the knit be the main event.

 

Mary Janes are the real story in this grid. The Square Mary Jane Flats have a squared toe that looks modern against a slip skirt or a long cardigan. The Double Buckle Mary Jane is the straightforward, schoolgirl version I would wear with ankle socks and a pleated mini. Max Buckle Knit Mesh Mary Jane Flats are the textured one, and they look best against a plain cotton dress, where the surface does the talking. Espadrille Mary Jane Flats bring a woven sole, which I would save for summer linen. The Cruiser Mary Jane, The Max Square Mary Jane, The Almond Mary Jane and The T-Strap Mary Jane add more colour and toe shapes.

 

There are four clogs, and they are good. The Casual Clog is the easy one to slip on with a long coat and wide trousers, and The Braid Clog Flats bring a woven detail across the top that sets them apart, while The Après Clog and The Teddy Buckle Clog add a herringbone knit and a buckled strap. Fisherman Sandals close the grid, and I would wear them with a loose poplin dress.

 

What I would skip: pairing a textured shoe like the Max Buckle Mary Janes with a busy print. The shoe is already doing the work, and the whole outfit starts to feel crowded. Likewise, do not put a clog under a very narrow trouser, because the shoe looks stubby against the slim leg.

Mary Janes, clogs, sneakers and sandals

How I would choose a pair

Here is how I would actually choose. First, decide what the shoe has to do. If it has to get you through a workday and a dinner after, start with a pointed flat from the first grid. If you want something for weekends, look at the loafers and drivers.

 

Second, look at the story you are buying. Recycled bottle thread, knit to shape, made in a factory the company owns and runs in Dongguan, which Rothy's says has earned LEED Gold and TRUE Zero-Waste certifications. It also works with other factory partners for various styles, so I would not assume every pair comes from the same place.

 

Third, try them on at the end of the day, and walk. A good flat should stay on your foot without you thinking about it. If you are thinking about it, put it back and try the next shape. Rothys shoes come in a lot of silhouettes, so there is almost always another pair worth a look. If you want to keep browsing, I also put together Ballet Flats and Mary Janes and Fall 2026 Shoe Trends, From Kitten Heels to Mary Janes.