Footwear Corner: Samsara Dharma
My opinions on this shoe and why it is has quickly become one one of my favorites
I genuinely love finding and talking about cool independent brands and putting them in the spotlight for others. When a I connect with a brands creative vision and ethos, it always makes me want to find out more about them and why they do what they do (and buy their products honestly).
If you read my other article about some independent brands I was excited about for 2025, then you’ll have seen a little bit about Samsara. And if you haven’t read that article, here you go. Look at me, I get 200 subscribers and just assume that everyone reads all of my articles (it really is one of my favorite articles that I’ve written so far though).
I wanted to do a review of the shoes now that I have them and have been wearing them consistently for the past few weeks. I don’t want it to be too “product reviewy,” and stiff if you get what I mean. I think this Footwear Corner will be a new series for different shoes that I really feel like deserve a full article like this, especially new shoe designs from new or upcoming brands that I discover.
I want to just be able to talk about what I like about the shoes and even maybe somethings that I don’t like. I’ll also talk a lot about the brand itself and the designers behind these cool shoes that make it here. I’m starting to ramble so I’ll get to the shoe talk.
About the brand
Samsara was founded by Adri Garcia in Barcelona, Spain. The about us section of their website describes the brand’s vision beautifully: Samsara, derived from Sanskrit, encapsulates an eternal cycle—’flowing together’ through various states, mirroring life’s journey with consequences for every action. Our brand name embodies a commitment to responsibility, positive legacy. Samsara reflects our philosophy: a meticulous consideration of each product’s life cycle. It’s not just a name but a reminder of our dedication to conscious actions, ensuring a sustainable and meaningful contribution to the world.
I messaged back and forth with Adri briefly and he was kind enough to answer some questions that I wanted to ask him about Samsara and his journey creating the brand. Huge shoutout to Adri for being the nicest guy and being willing to take the time to answer the questions from a guy with a tiny Substack on the other side of the world. Gracias! Here is the mini interview with Adri:
Carter: ¿En qué año comenzó Samsara?
Adri: Samsara nació en 2020 como mi proyecto final de carrera, justo antes de la pandemia. Aunque en ese momento quedó en pausa, en 2023 decidí retomarlo y convertirlo en una marca real.
Carter: ¿Qué le impulsó e inspiró a crear su propia marca?
Adri: Cuando desarrollé el proyecto, no solo diseñé un producto, sino que creé una identidad completa: valores, logotipo y una visión clara. Sin embargo, en ese momento, el proyecto quedó en pausa. Tras graduarme, trabajé en varias marcas de ropa y calzado, lo que me permitió adquirir experiencia, ver de cerca la industria y entender qué me gustaba y qué no. Fue entonces cuando decidí dar el salto y convertir Samsara en una realidad.
Carter: ¿Cuántas iteraciones fueron necesarias para lanzar el modelo actual de zapatillas?
Adri: El diseño actual nació del prototipo original que desarrollé en 2020. Desde entonces, ya en 2023, pasamos por unas cuatro o cinco samples hasta llegar al modelo que finalmente lanzamos.
Carter: ¿Siempre supo que quería trabajar en la industria de la moda?
Adri: No, lo fui descubriendo con el tiempo. Mi camino ha sido poco convencional: mi primer trabajo fue en un taller de mecánica de autobuses, luego trabajé con diseñadores industriales en la industria del automóvil y, a partir de ahí, decidí estudiar diseño de producto. Fue en ese momento cuando empecé a conectar con la moda, ya que la universidad donde estudiaba estaba muy enfocada en ese mundo. Siempre me generó curiosidad entender cómo se hacían las prendas, los patrones, los tejidos… y poco a poco me fui adentrando más en esa dirección.
Carter: ¿Qué es lo que más le gusta de su trabajo?
Adri: Sin duda, la posibilidad de crear y conectar. Crear productos con significado y, al mismo tiempo, construir una comunidad en torno a ellos es lo que más disfruto.
Carter: ¿Y por fin, quizas un dato curioso que muchos no saben de Samsara?
Adri: El nombre Samsara viene del concepto budista del ciclo de vida, muerte y renacimiento. Nos pareció una metáfora perfecta para lo que queremos transmitir: productos que no están diseñados para ser desechables, sino para acompañarte en el camino y, cuando llegue el momento, transformarse en algo nuevo.
Oh, and here’s the English translation of the interview as well for all you non-Spanish speakers:
Carter: What year did Samsara start?
Adri: Samsara was born in 2020 as my final college project, right before the pandemic. Although it was put on hold at the time, in 2023, I decided to revive it and turn it into a real brand.
Carter: What motivated and inspired you to create your own brand?
Adri: When I developed the project, I didn’t just design a product—I created a complete identity: values, a logo, and a clear vision. However, at that time, the project was put on hold. After graduating, I worked for several clothing and footwear brands, which allowed me to gain experience, see the industry up close, and understand what I liked and what I didn’t. That’s when I decided to take the leap and turn Samsara into a reality.
Carter: How many iterations were needed before launching the current sneaker model?
Adri: The current design came from the original prototype I developed in 2020. Since then, in 2023, we went through about four or five samples before arriving at the final model we launched.
Carter: Did you always know you wanted to work in the fashion industry?
Adri: No, I discovered it over time. My path has been quite unconventional—my first job was in a bus mechanics workshop, then I worked with industrial designers in the automotive industry, and from there, I decided to study product design. It was during that time that I started connecting with fashion, as the university I attended had a strong focus on that world. I was always curious about how garments were made, the patterns, the fabrics… and little by little, I became more immersed in that direction.
Carter: What do you enjoy most about your job?
Adri: Without a doubt, the ability to create and connect. Creating meaningful products and, at the same time, building a community around them is what I enjoy the most.
Carter: And finally, perhaps a fun fact that many don’t know about Samsara?
Adri: The name Samsara comes from the Buddhist concept of the cycle of life, death, and rebirth. We thought it was the perfect metaphor for what we want to convey—products that aren’t designed to be disposable, but to accompany you on your journey and, when the time comes, transform into something new.
Design
The Samsara Dharma takes inspiration and design cues from low-top hiking/approach shoes and blends technical mountaineering with streetwear styles. I love the natural off-white color of the shoe and the texture from the natural bamboo fibers. I also think the color contrasts perfectly with the all black midsole and outsole.
The paneling on the lateral and medial sides create what I feel like is a cohesive natural flow to the shoe. Everything seems meticulously thought out and yet painstakingly simple at the same time. The design and materials together seamlessly blend style and sustainability to create a unique and effortlessly wearable silhouette.
Materials
Made in Portugal, the upper of the Dharma is constructed of 100% hemp, following their goal to “blend[s] style and sustainability to elevate your presence with an ethical footprint.” The lining of the shoe is a mix of 70% bamboo and 30% recycled polyester. The outsole is a high performance Vibram rubber with a good amount of grip. I felt like the craftsmanship on this shoe was excellent, you can really feel that every little detail and material choice was chosen with purpose. This is a shoe that will last for a long, long time, even if you don’t take care of it.
Fit/Comfort
The Dharma is sold in standard European sizing. For reference, in most sneakers I am a size 9.5 US and for most loafers, derbies, boots etc I am a size 9 US. I picked up a size EU 42, which is equivalent to a US 9, and it fits me perfectly.
The shoe feels snug on my foot without being to tight, I don’t have any heel slippage, and my toes have room in the forefoot area. I found the Dharma to be extremely comfortable right out of the box. The shoe is also actually very stable and offers a lot of support in the midfoot area, especially on the medial side.
After wearing the shoes every chance I get for the last few weeks they have broken in and become even more comfortable. They are also very durable. These are shoes that you can not worry about damaging or beating up and just wear them (I think they’ll look even cooler beat up with their own natural patina from every day wear).
I really cannot recommend these shoes enough. From the design to the unique materials used Adri and Samsara absolutely smashed it. I think the Dharma is the perfect blend of casual everyday footwear and outdoor technical shoes — Nature as Atelier.
There’s something to be said about a comfortable, simple, good looking pair of shoes that’s also technical and functional that you can wear anywhere with anything and just beat the hell out of them. Wear them from the city, up to the mountains, and everywhere in between. I can’t wait to see more of Samsara’s creations in the future.
Follow Samsara on Instagram
Here’s an exclusive fit pic of me wearing the Samsara Dharma out and about.
