At Mozo Chef® Shoes, our passion is creating the most comfortable, durable, and stylish footwear for chefs and kitchen professionals. For over 15 years, we’ve been pioneering innovative designs to meet the demanding needs of those who spend long hours on their feet in hot, busy kitchens.
Our Humble Beginnings
The Mozo story starts in a small workshop in Spain. Our founder, a shoe craftsman named Enrique Mozo, had a vision for a new kind of kitchen footwear. Drawing from his expertise in traditional Spanish shoe-making, Enrique set out to create shoes that were not only supportive and slip-resistant, but also breathed better than the stiff leather clogs dominating professional kitchens.
In 2003, Enrique sketched the first prototype for Mozo shoes – a clog featuring a contoured footbed made with coconut fiber for superior comfort and ventilation. He knew he was onto something good when the cooks testing his design couldn’t stop raving about the “cloud-like cushioning” and coolness compared to their plastic and heavy leather shoes.
Bolstered by the enthusiasm from chefs, Enrique moved production to a family-owned factory near Barcelona to start handcrafting Mozo Shoes for the masses. Word spread quickly among kitchen crews about these revolutionary new “Mozos” from Spain. As demand grew overseas, Enrique decided to expand operations to the US and opened our headquarters in California. And the rest is history in the making!
Innovation from the Ground Up
Here at Mozo, we take an artisanal approach to shoe-making. Our designers pay meticulous attention to each and every detail, component, and construction method to deliver the perfect balance of comfort, support, and durability.
We only use premium materials that hold up to the toughest kitchen conditions. Our proprietary Mozo Latex-Free M-PureTM polyurethane outsoles provide unbeatable slip resistance and oil grip. The moisture-wicking linings fight odor and keep feet cooler. And our famous contoured insoles cradle the feet like memory foam for endless support.
But we’re never satisfied with the status quo. Our designers are constantly researching, testing, and integrating the latest advancements in material science, biomechanics, and ergonomics into our shoe designs. We hold several patents for innovative features found only in Mozo shoes, like our Komfort Foam TechnologyTM for advanced cushioning and rebound.
We also consult directly with chefs to understand the evolving needs of their profession. For example, rising concerns about kitchen injuries and fatigue inspired us to engineer the ultra-supportive Mozo Recovery SeriesTM with fatigue-reducing compression technology. We are proudly paving the future of footwear for Chef’s health and performance.
European Craftsmanship Meets Modern Technology
Mozo has come a long way from our humble beginnings in a Barcelona workshop. Today, we blend Old World shoemaking craft with cutting-edge manufacturing technology to maintain our reputation for exceptional comfort and quality.
Our factory just outside Barcelona hums with the choreography of master artisans and state-of-the-art machinery working in tandem. It takes over 140 production steps and sets of skilled hands to create each pair of Mozo shoes. Our people bring generations of shoemaking knowledge to inspect each raw material for quality consistency, engineer the ergonomic lasts, cut the components, and meticulously assemble them together by hand.
We complement our handcrafting with the latest automated processes to enhance efficiency and precision. Laser-cutting forms our slip-resistant outsoles to the exacting tolerances that provide a balanced gait. Computer-guided injection molding sculpts our renowned anatomical footbeds to cradle the contours of the feet. And advanced heat sealing and bonding cement the pieces together for flex points designed perfectly to bend with the foot’s natural motion.
By merging Old World craft with high-tech manufacturing, we are able to control quality with precision while maintaining the human touch throughout our production process.
A Shoe Revolution for Chefs
Since the genesis of our very first clog back in 2003, Mozo has sparked a revolution in kitchen footwear. We overturned the notion that cooks must suffer through back and knee pain for the sake of anti-slip shoes.
Mozo has shown the industry that it is possible to create supportive, breathable shoes from innovative materials that also provide superior slip resistance on wet and greasy floors. Safety and comfort are not mutually exclusive – they can live together in harmony.
Today, over 1 million kitchen professionals around the world have stepped into the cushioned comfort of Mozo’s game-changing footwear. Our shoes have been a fresh wind of change, inspiring chefs to move freely and work longer with less pain and fatigue. This benefits not only their health and performance, but also workplace safety and morale.
As Mozo continues to grow, our mission remains the same – keep chefs happy, healthy and safely on their feet! We are committed to pushing boundaries and bringing continued innovation to the kitchens that nourish our world.
Built for the Needs of Chefs
Mozo engineers every detail of our shoes to stand up to the grueling demands of restaurant and food service environments. We work directly with chefs to identify their pain points, and then design solutions into our products to address those needs.
All Mozo shoes feature slip-resistant outsoles and oil-resistant materials to provide traction and stain resistance on slick commercial floors. We also integrate anti-microbial treatments to discourage odor-causing bacteria from growing inside the shoes during hot, sweaty shifts.
For enduring cushioning against hard floors, our Komfort Foam midsoles absorb shock and return energy with each step. We construct our shoes using durable seamless knit uppers and flexible cements for resilience against spills and stains.
To combat hot Kitchens, Mozo shoes have breathable linings and moisture-wicking fabrics that draw sweat away from the feet. We’ve even engineered ventilation ports into some outsoles to promote air circulation.
And for style, our shoes come in a wide variety of fashion-forward designs from colorful prints to neutrals, so chefs can put their personal stamp on required footwear. We want chefs to feel as amazing as they look commanding the kitchen!
Specialized Solutions for Every Work Environment
Not all kitchens are the same. That’s why Mozo offers specialized footwear solutions to meet the unique needs of diverse food service environments.
Our collection of clogs combines slip-resistance with security and breathability for chefs who need to quickly walk on all types of commercial flooring. Our clog styles are divided into categories based on features like arch support, heel coverage, and strap configurations to suit every foot type.
For kitchen crews who prefer lace-up shoes, we designed options ranging from athletic sneakers and oxfords to work boots. This footwear provides a customizable fit with foam linings to prevent blisters, plus arch support and compression technology for working long hours on the feet.
Our slip-resistant sandals are perfect for keeping feet cool in hot restaurant settings and climates. We use lightweight materials like laser-cut eva with perforated designs to ensure open-air breathability. For extra support, some sandals have removable arch cookie insoles.
Mozo even makes stylish yet non-slip footwear for wait staff who are constantly walking and maneuvering between kitchen and dining areas. Our slip-resistant oxfords, heels, and loafers allow servers to complete their shifts safely without sacrificing professional looks.
No matter your unique kitchen environment and footwear needs, Mozo has a high-performance solution. Browse our collections to find your perfect fit!
Supporting Those Who Feed the World
The hardworking chefs and cooks who spend all day nourishing others rarely take time to nurture themselves. That’s why we see it as our purpose at Mozo to care for the bodies and wellbeing of food service professionals.
Our founders come from a long lineage of artisans who took great pride in their craft. We understand the dedication it takes to perfect the culinary arts. We are invested in helping chefs protect their health and longevity so they can keep doing what they love – creating delicious dishes that bring joy to our lives and communities.
We support chefs not just through our innovative footwear, but also by giving back to the food service community. The Mozo Fund provides shoes and other aid to culinary students and kitchen employees facing hardship. We also actively donate money and shoes to charities that support kitchen workers like Chefs Cycle and the CIA Scholarship Fund.
It’s an honor for us to contribute to the kitchen crews who fuel our world. We’ll continue working hard to help the food service community thrive – just like they help all of us thrive through their gift of nourishment and comfort. Our founder’s mission still rings true today – keep chefs happy, healthy, and safely on their feet!
So next time you enjoy an incredible meal, consider the hidden heroes in the kitchen that made it possible. Then check out our shoes to help those unsung chefs fly through long shifts with improved comfort and support. Together with Mozo, we can uplift the professionals who uplift our tables and bellies!
