Rainbow Sandals founder Jay “Sparky” Longley, center, cuts a ribbon marking fifty years in business with the help of honored guests including Assembly member Laurie Davies, left, and Orange ...

FLIP FLOP Once you break in a pair of Rainbow Sandals, you'll be hooked. Morgan Thompson Published Aug. 8 2021 5:00AM EDT Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Scouted/Amazon ...

The high-end flip-flops, which typically run from $36 for a hemp sandal to $51 for a leather model, are now available throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe and Australia.

But today’s best flip-flops are changing the status quo. These sandals command respect, and no one—not even the most judgmental footwear connoisseur—can deny their resurgence.

Strappy sandals can cause blisters, and if they’ve got high heels they put pressure on the knees and ankles and the ball of the foot. And even flip-flops, that old summer standby, can be hard on ...

Jay “Sparky” Longley swiftly swipes the brown sandal’s edges across a speeding sander – back and forth, up and down – gently grinding all the sides until the flip flop feels just right.

“Rainbow Sandals and San Clemente are synonymous.” Longley gave a tour of the operation on a recent day, where 80 people are employed, showing how the Brazilian leather is cut out, the sole of the ...

Jay “Sparky” Longley at his Rainbow Sandals store in San Clemente on Friday, June 21, 2024. He has been manufacturing his hand-made sandals for fifty years at his San Clemente location.