The story of Salt-Water Sandals begins in 1944 during the Second World War. It's a love story, the love of an ingenious father, Walter Hoy, a British immigrant from Norwich who, in the midst of raw material shortages, makes with cuts and leather scraps from the manufacture of military boots, a pair of sandals for his little girl Margery. Thus, was born the first pair of the Original Salt-Water Sandal. Soon, her brother Bob got his bronzed pair, which still sits on the shelves of the 4th generation workshop, Hoy Shoe Company, in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.

Over decades of ever-growing popularity, Salt-Water Sandals have become an iconic heritage American footwear brand, both for children and adults, selling across multiple countries and are also available in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France. Salt-Water Sandals are sold through department stores, independent boutiques and on its fully trilingual website.