How Aylla was born: from climbing to barefoot

Behind Aylla stands one very specific person. Our founder, Honza Zozuľák — a climber, a movement enthusiast… and also a lover of good red wine. Over a glass, he once told us a story that today goes by the name Aylla.

What should you know about Honza?

• He was born and still lives in Pardubice; his favorite place in the Czech Republic is Adršpach.
• He competed in climbing competitions, including the Czech National Championship, where he placed twice in the Top 8.
• He switched not only his wife and daughter to barefoot shoes, but also his parents.

Aylla founder Honza Zozuľák

How it all began

I bought my first barefoot shoes while I was at university. Unfortunately, I was badly advised in the store and chose a size that was too small. I didn’t even know I was buying something called “barefoot” — I simply wanted wide shoes.

My dream was to build my own climbing wall. I imagined it in the Sokol gym in Pardubice. I knew exactly where the entrance should be and where the facilities would be. In the end, I made it happen, and for two years my brother and I took turns working at the reception.

From climbing to barefoot

At the same Sokol gym, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga classes were held at the time. The practice is extremely demanding in terms of strength, and it completely absorbed me. Through activating my little toe in yoga, I suddenly improved my hand-to-hand jumps. That was the moment when I started looking into a different way of moving — something that doesn’t overload the body, but actually helps it.

By then, I was already wearing barefoot shoes, so I got the idea to open a small barefoot shop right next to the climbing wall. At that time, there were only a few barefoot brands on the market — some of them even only for children. Gradually, my friend Martin joined me, and together we decided to really step into the barefoot world.

The leather from which we sewed some of the first models for you

“Why Don’t You Have Them Made?”

One sentence that changed my life. So we approached a shoe manufacturer we knew. Two guys who wanted to make barefoot shoes. We were very cautious, though — afraid it could all go wrong. Some technologies simply didn’t exist in barefoot shoes back then. We learned as we went.

Aylla and her beginnings

Aylla is born

At the same time, we were also working on the brand name. We were helped by the owner of a graphic studio whose kids I taught climbing. We wanted to connect climbing, yoga, and barefoot shoes. And we realized we were actually looking for a name for a community of like-minded people. That’s how Aylla was born — inspired by the Quechua word ayllu, meaning family.

The first models — and what came next

Our first model was INCA, in its very first generation — Martin and I designed it ourselves. Even though our paths later diverged, I’ll never forget those beginnings.

Over time, we expanded production to Slovakia and ran it that way for quite a while. Gradually, however, problems started to pile up — late deliveries, declining quality, and unstable pricing.

INCA II – the next generation of our first ever shoe model

Olá, Portugal

In 2025, a Portuguese barefoot shoe designer reached out to me. He simply messaged me on LinkedIn, saying he’d like to make shoes for us. That was in March. We met in April, and since then, we’ve been working together. For us, it felt like switching from an old compact car to a Ferrari.

We simply want to make better shoes. Suddenly, we have clear rules, consistent quality, and the ability to focus on details that were impossible before.

Our customers can feel this change today — in how the shoes fit, how they hold their shape, and how long they last.

TINKU winter – the current model of our barefoot slippers