Vessi Footwear

What Vessi Footwear does

Vessi Footwear Ltd. is a Vancouver-based, privately held DTC footwear company founded in 2018 that designs and sells waterproof knit shoes built around its patented Dyma-tex technology, which uses thousands of nano-sized pores engineered directly into the knit fabric to block water while allowing perspiration and heat to escape. The core product portfolio comprises 16+ shoe SKUs across multiple franchises (Weekend, Stormburst, Tidal, Chelsea, Boardwalk, Market, Soho, Pacific, Motu, Alta) priced $90-$200 USD per pair, with extension into waterproof apparel and accessories including rain jackets, hoodies, gloves, hats, belt bags, and socks. The company has also built a four-store omnichannel retail presence in Vancouver, Richmond, Burnaby, and Bellevue, Washington, while shipping online to 35+ countries through a Shopify storefront supporting eight currencies.

The business is bootstrapped, with only two small disclosed funding rounds totaling roughly $2.1M (2018 and 2022), and is founder-led by Andy Wang (CEO) and Tony Yu (co-founder), with Lorrin Pascoe joining as CMO in April 2025 to lead global scaling. Revenue is generated entirely through direct-to-consumer channels (own e-commerce, owned retail), targeting urban professionals, active outdoor users, travelers, and Canadian/all-weather consumers with marketing programs aimed at healthcare workers, students, and referral communities. The company has scaled to near $100 million in reported sales by late 2025, though management has disclosed margin pressure from U.S. tariffs and the removal of the de minimis exemption as headwinds to continued growth.

Name

Vessi Footwear

Legal name

Vessi Footwear Ltd.

Website

https://vessi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Vessi Footwear is a Vancouver-based DTC footwear and apparel company that designs and sells patented Dyma-tex waterproof knit shoes, jackets, and accessories directly to consumers via e-commerce and four owned retail stores across Canada and the U.S.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Waterproof Footwear

NAICS

Footwear Manufacturing (3162), Shoe Retailers (45821)

SIC

Footwear, (No Rubber) (3140), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)

akta.pro primary industry

Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sustainable & Eco-Friendly Footwear (CRAAACAH), Outdoor & Hiking Footwear (CRAAACAD), Outdoor Clothing & Footwear Retail (Camping/Hiking/Climbing) (CRAMAMAK)

Keywords

• Waterproof footwear
• Knit sneakers
• Waterproof apparel
• Vegan shoes
• Direct-to-consumer footwear

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Footwear Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of waterproof footwear including sneakers, boots, slip-ons, and flats through owned e-commerce and retail stores. Core revenue driver with products ranging from $90-$200 per pair.
2. Apparel & Accessories: Expansion into complementary waterproof apparel including Mist Bomber Jackets ($220), Trinity Rain Jackets ($240), Coastal Hoodies, Forecast Gloves, Forecast Hats, Shoreline Belt Bags, and socks.
3. Retail Store Operations: Revenue from company-owned retail locations including stores in Vancouver, Richmond Centre, Burnaby, and Bellevue Square, Washington.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Vessi Footwear designs, manufactures, and sells 100% waterproof shoes and complementary apparel built around its patented Dyma-tex knit technology. The company's core offerings are waterproof sneakers, boots, slip-ons, and flats sold under its own brand through DTC e-commerce (vessi.com) and a growing footprint of company-operated retail stores in Canada and the United States.

Product overview

Vessi Footwear is a Vancouver-based waterproof footwear brand offering a comprehensive product portfolio centered on patented Dyma-tex waterproof knit technology. The core product line consists of multiple sneaker franchises including Weekend Classic, Weekend Neo, Weekend Slip-On, Stormburst (High Top and Low Top), Classic Chelsea, Uptown Chelsea, Boardwalk Slip-On, Market Flat, Market Mary Jane, Tidal (Sneaker and Slip-On), Soho, Pacific, Motu, and Alta High Top - all featuring 100% waterproof protection. Beyond footwear, the brand has expanded into apparel and accessories including Mist Bomber Jacket, Trinity Rain Jacket, Coastal Hoodie, Forecast Gloves, Forecast Hat, Forecast Beanie, Shoreline Belt Bags, and socks. The company positions itself as an all-season sneaker brand designed for Canadian weather conditions, with products available for both men and women.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Weekend Classic

Quantifiable outcome

• No break-in period required - comfortable right out of the box
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Aeroplan eStoreminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 12 January 2026Vessi products available through the Aeroplan eStore platform, allowing members to earn points on purchases.
• ShopifycoreTechnology or Integration · 6 November 2024Vessi leverages Shopify's AI-powered tools for data-driven operations and conversion rate optimization. The company conducts 3-4 tests monthly guided by daily and weekly on-site funnel data, using Shopify's built-in AI capabilities without additional cost.
• KickstartercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 September 2023Kickstarter campaign launched for Stormburst all-weather sneakers to expand product reach globally and fund growth initiatives. Campaign leveraged sustainable materials and ethical manufacturing practices positioning.
• StudentBeansminorGTM or Marketing PartnerStudent discount program partnership allowing students to access discounts through StudentBeans verification platform.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Allbirds: Public sustainable DTC footwear brand selling casual sneakers and lifestyle shoes direct to consumer; directly comparable to Vessi's casual waterproof sneaker positioning and DTC-first model.
• Suavs: Direct-to-consumer brand selling waterproof and water-resistant shoes, with comparable lightweight knit construction; competes head-to-head with Vessi in the everyday waterproof sneaker category.
• Rothy's: Sustainable DTC footwear brand using knit uppers made from recycled materials; comparable in DTC model, sustainability positioning, and casual lifestyle product mix targeting urban consumers.
• Atoms: DTC sneaker brand focused on everyday comfort and fit with strong consumer reviews; comparable in online-only DTC go-to-market and consumer-direct sneaker positioning.
• Cariuma: Brazilian-origin sustainable DTC sneaker brand using eco-friendly materials; comparable in sustainability messaging, casual lifestyle product, and online-first distribution.
• Koio: Premium DTC sneaker brand selling directly to consumer via e-commerce and selective retail; comparable premium price points, casual aesthetic, and direct-to-consumer model.

Broad incumbents

• Nike: Global athletic footwear giant offering waterproof and weatherized running/lifestyle sneakers (e.g., Nike Pegasus, Shield line); competes broadly with Vessi in waterproof casual and athletic footwear at vastly greater scale.
• Adidas: Global athletic incumbent with extensive waterproof and weatherized product lines and where Vessi's new CMO previously worked; sets competitive benchmark on waterproof technology and brand marketing spend.
• Merrell: Established outdoor footwear brand with strong waterproof hiking and casual offerings using technologies like M Select Dry; comparable in waterproof positioning and overlap with Vessi's Stormburst hiking line.

Emerging players

• Greats Royale: DTC premium sneaker brand with direct-to-consumer e-commerce model and Made-in-Italy positioning; comparable in DTC-only go-to-market and premium casual sneaker consumer, though without waterproof tech.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vessi
• Xx.com/vessifootwear

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vessi Footwear