If you’ve never heard of TAYGRA before, you’re probably not alone.
They’ve been made in Brazil since 1989 and have built a loyal following around the world, particularly among dancers. But you definitely don’t need to dance to wear them.
So what exactly are TAYGRAs - and why do they feel so different from the sneakers you’re used to?
They’ve been made in Brazil since 1989
TAYGRA started in Minas Gerais, Brazil, with small-scale production in a backyard.
More than 35 years later, the shoes are still made in Brazil, with around 70% of the production process completed by hand and the rest supported by machinery.
That matters to us. TAYGRA has kept its production in Brazil rather than moving manufacturing offshore, continuing to work with skilled local makers along the way.
They’re ridiculously flexible
This is probably the first thing you’ll notice when you pick up a pair.
TAYGRAs bend. A lot.
Their flexible soles and soft uppers allow your feet to move much more freely than they can inside a heavily structured sneaker. They're also incredibly lightweight, which gives them a very different feel underfoot.
It's one of those things that's difficult to properly explain until you put a pair on.
Not every TAYGRA feels the same
There are three main TAYGRA styles at The Sole Co, and while they're all lightweight and flexible, they don't feel exactly the same.
Classic Low has a little more structure, with a soft fabric upper that moulds to your foot as you wear it.
Corrida Low is softer and has an almost sock-like feel, with a lightweight mesh upper that sits close to your foot.
Corridalta High has that same soft Corrida feel, just in a high top with more coverage around the ankle.
Same TAYGRA DNA. Three pretty different looks.
Dancers found them first
TAYGRAs have long been popular with dancers, and once you've felt how flexible they are, it's pretty easy to understand why.
But that's actually how The Sole Co came about.
I originally discovered TAYGRA through dance and sold them through my previous business, Move Me Dancewear. I loved wearing them on the dance floor, but I also found myself reaching for them everywhere else.
Walking. Travelling. Running around after my kids. Going out. Normal life.
I kept thinking: why should dancers get to have all the fun?
Eventually, that thought became The Sole Co.
There’s more thought behind how they’re made, too
TAYGRA uses water-based glues and looks for ways to reduce waste throughout its production.
Some styles also incorporate recycled materials. Our Classic Low uppers, for example, are made using recycled fabric offcuts, which means colours and fabrics can vary slightly between pairs and batches.
TAYGRA has also supported its CURUPIRA reforestation project in Brazil since 2009.
Sustainability isn't the whole reason we love the shoes, and we're not going to pretend any sneaker has zero impact. But we like knowing there's thought behind how they're made.
So, what makes TAYGRA different?
They’re lightweight. They’re ridiculously flexible. They’re handmade in Brazil. And they don't really feel like the sneakers most of us grew up wearing.
They're also a little different-looking - which we happen to think is a good thing.
Walk in them. Travel in them. Dance in them if that's your thing.
Mostly, just wear them.