Our Story

From one woman's innovative idea to a billion pairs of slippers later, Dearfoams remains a legacy brand that gives you the comfort of home anywhere and anytime.

• 1945 Florence Zacks Melton, Columbus, OH, inventor and entrepreneur, created detachable shoulder pads for women's military-style fashions of the time.
• 1947 Florence Melton visited the Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. in Akron, OH, to research new materials for her shoulder pads. There, she found foam latex, a material that was developed during WWII. Florence decided that the material would be best used in footwear, not shoulder pads, and she created her first slipper prototype.
• 1948 Dearfoams introduces the world's first foam-cushioned, washable slipper. It is an immediate hit in the notions area of department stores.
• 1958 Dearfoams moves slippers from notions departments to first floor hosiery departments, launching what will evolve into the accessory footwear category.
• 1979 Net sales top $100 million mark for the first time.
• 1980 Dearfoams Warm-Up Boots become one of the top-selling holiday gift items in U.S. department store history.
• 1997 Dearfoams celebrates its 50th anniversary and is named Wal-Mart Stores International Soft Lines Vendor of the Year.
• TODAY 70 years and a billion pairs later, people still love the exceptional comfort, style and quality provided by every pair of Dearfoams.