Picture yourself… anywhere

We at Nomadic State of Mind believe that while it may not always be possible to take your physical body to new and exciting destinations, you certainly can find small doses of time to let your mind wander into un- known territories. Whether you fancy physical travel (time travel or within this dimension), sense expansion (ever tried an unfamiliar cuisine?) or going for a ride with google earth into the depths of the globe to discover a small town in the other hemisphere– you have tapped into your Nomadic State of Mind… Now, take a peek into ours.

Nomadic State of Mind, a grassroots-style handmade sandal company founded by Chris Anderson, began its voyage in the late 90’s. In the early years we ran the business out of a 1969 VW bus, which also served as Chris’ summer home (what nature loving, outdoor sports enthusiast, raft guide with a music guided-soul didn’t spend some time in a VW bus?). While we have come a long way since the days of Chris in his van, our philosophy has stayed consistent: “If it is done right in the beginning, it will last a long time.”

Today “We” are: Chris, Entropy Engineer; Dave (Chris’ Dad), Shipping Guru and Disciple of the NY Garment Industry; Lori-dropped out of corporate paint bucket and found a home here, and Kelly, Jeff, Ryan (your packing masters) a team of 17 rope artisans, (47 rope artisans as of 2018) and distributors around the globe..

At the turn of the century (the last one), Chris was introduced to a small community in Nicaragua that had been through some tough times and was in need of reliable income. He taught a small group how to make sandals, believing in fair trade and ethical practices, and sticking to our philosophy– Do it right. In the beginning, the road navigating the Wild West of Nicaragua was long and bumpy with scattered thunderstorms and occasional rainbows. But with perseverance and inspiration from lots of happy feet wandering the planet, we have found a home there for over a decade. So from a van by the river, to international availability and distribution (we even opened a Nomadic State of Mind store in the country of Cyprus) we have continued to grow and “do it right”. Occasionally we let our imaginations take over, which has helped lead to an increased product line with the addition of various forms of rope art (using sandal scraps!), from handbags to water bottle carriers, to rugs and more.

Our apparel line uses organic cotton and recycled fabrics and the prints are inspired by Chris’ travel and photography over the years. The business is built from the heart and that’s apparent in the structure of the company as well. The company began it’s roots setting up sandal shops at outdoor music festivals throughout the country, and though the team and the company have grown, festivals are still a favourite activity for Chris and the crew and that’s where he can be found through much of the summer. Nomadic State of Mind is a growing team, and continues to design and build superb quality, affordably priced rope art sandals to market Made from real hands for real feet. Thanks for your support through the years! Peace. Love. Good times!