# Hippy Feet is the coolest company you haven't heard about until now! Michael Mader, CEO

- Show: [People of Packaging](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging)
- Published: 2025-11-05
- Length: 35m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader
- Listen: https://encase.substack.com/p/hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company

## Summary

Michael Mader, founder of Hippy Feet, explains how a traumatic brain injury during his senior year of college inspired him to build a business that acts as a support system for people experiencing homelessness. He details the company's evolution from a 'buy one, give one' donation model to an employment program for homeless youth, and finally to a strategy of donating profits to nonprofits that provide comprehensive care. Mader also discusses the significant challenges of sourcing American-made custom socks and knitwear, highlighting the difficulty of convincing established manufacturers to take a risk on a new brand and the importance of building personal relationships with factory owners.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader#t=1) Introduction: Michael Mader and Label King
- [4:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader#t=241) The Origin Story: Traumatic Brain Injury and Support Systems
- [13:03](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader#t=783) Mission-Driven Entrepreneurship and Product Quality
- [18:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader#t=1130) Sourcing American-Made Socks and Manufacturing Challenges
- [27:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader#t=1679) Product Highlights: Wool Socks and Merino Sweaters

## Topics

- [Starting a product company](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/starting-a-company)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Sourcing & supply chain](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sourcing-and-supply-chain)
- [Industrial & consumer product design](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/industrial-design)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Hippy Feet (company)
- Label King (company)
- Tom Shoes (company)
- Bombas (company)
- Microsoft (company)
- Pixar (company)
- United Healthcare (company)
- HubSpot (company)
- Peace Coffee (company)
- Tahin (company)
- Wharton School of Business (company)
- Pendleton (company)
- Heritage West (company)
- Friends of the Boundary Waters (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Bombas: David Heath and Randy Goldberg](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2022-09-19-bombas-david-heath-and-randy-goldberg) (How I Built This)
- [TOMS: Blake Mycoskie](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2017-05-29-toms-blake-mycoskie) (How I Built This)
- [Steve Madden: Steve Madden (2018)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2019-12-23-steve-madden-steve-madden-2018) (How I Built This)
- [Aviator Nation: Paige Mycoskie](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-01-01-aviator-nation-paige-mycoskie) (How I Built This)
- [Brooklinen: Vicki and Rich Fulop](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2020-04-20-brooklinen-vicki-and-rich-fulop) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2025-11-05-hippy-feet-is-the-coolest-company-you-havent-heard-about-until-now-michael-mader. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to People of Packaging.