Our Story

The Michael Ellis Footwear journey began after decades of frustration of not being able to source larger and wider shoes for our existing 2BigFeet customers. Back in 2000, we launched 2BigFeet, an online retailer for guys with hard-to-find sizes. Every year since, we spent countless hours searching for brands that make large sizes. We begged and pleaded with manufacturers, but often struggled to convince the big brands to make larger and wider sizes. Year-after-year our brands were dropping the sizes that our customers needed. While we still sell over 40 brands of shoes to big-footed guys all over the world, there were always styles that our customers asked us for that just weren't available. 

Reviewing Leather Options

In 2017, we decided to take matters into our own brand and the vision for Michael Ellis Footwear was born. After a good bit of market research and education in footwear manufacturing and a lot of planning and development (and a few mistakes along the way), we launched our first styles of sandals and house slippers in 2021. We learned a lot through that experience, especially trying to develop and manufacture shoes across the world during a global pandemic.

Brandon, Guilherme, and Patrick in Brazil

One constant we saw in talking with our customers was that they needed a more stylish sneaker in big and wide sizes. In 2022 we began developing our line of sneakers for guys with big feet, and after more than a year of development (and multiple rounds of prototypes and confirmation samples, trips to visit factories, and development of our own molds in large sizes), the Michael Ellis Sneaker Collection was launched in winter 2023.

Our customers have continued to express to us what they need and what is missing from the current retail shoe market and we are working hard to fill those gaps. We have lots of new styles in development for 2024 and 2025, including casual and retro sneakers, casual shoes and boots, dress shoes, house slippers, socks, sandals, and water shoes. 

Size 25 Shoe Last

We have been selling men's large size shoes for over 24 years, and we created Michael Ellis Footwear just for guys with big and wide feet. We are diligently working to design stylish shoes up to size 25 and widths up to 6E.

If there's a particular style in large sizes that you have had a hard time finding, let us know and we will see what we can do for you. We understand your frustration and we're here to help.

Designed for Life, Sized for You.™

OUR MISSION

Michael Ellis Footwear is dedicated to designing, developing and manufacturing footwear, socks, and accessories for men with hard to find sizes and widths. Our mission is to make sure every guy in the world can find a pair of shoes that fit and look great.

OUR EXPERIENCE

We have been in the footwear industry helping guys with big feet find shoes in their size and width for 25 years, and our team has over 50 years of combined experience in footwear manufacturing, sales, and distribution. We understand the challenges men with big feet face every day trying to find shoes.

OUR APPROACH

We work closely with manufacturing partners all over the world to design, develop, and manufacture styles that are currently not available anywhere in large sizes and widths. We work hard to find small, family-owned factories that want to partner with us and form a long-term relationship.

OUR COMMITMENT

We are committed to developing a range of styles that look great, fit well, and are comfortable—all up to size 20 6E. We are manufacturing select styles up to size 25 6E. We stand behind our products and will replace any shoes or socks with a manufacturing defect for a full year from purchase.

What our customers are saying...

I love these shoes!!!

I love being able to buy shoes in my size again. I bought these as dress shoes until actual dress shoes come out in my size. However since wearing them with my suits I may just stick with them. They look that good.

Mark

Thank God for Michael Ellis

I just got my shoes yesterday and I couldn't be happier. I wear size 17 and needless to say the shoe selection for people in our size range is very limited, especially if you are looking for something more stylish. I've been looking for shoes like these FOREVER and my prayers have been answered. I've only had them for 12 hours and I can already tell you have a customer for life.

Nick

Great shoes!

My husband wears a size 21 shoe. Needless to say, he does not have many choices. Theses Michael Ellis Bailey slip -on sneakers are fabulous for him. He has in both colors. So happy we found them. This is his third pair. Please keep adding more styles for large feet.

Kathleen