Vessi waterproof footwear

Founded in 2018 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Vessi is a pioneering Canadian footwear brand that specialized in creating the world's first 100% waterproof knit sneaker. The company was established by three Vancouverites—Andy Wang, Tony Yu, and Mikaella Go—who sought to design a shoe that could withstand the city's notorious rainy climate without sacrificing the comfort and style of a traditional sneaker. Their breakthrough came with the development of Dyma-tex, a patented waterproof and breathable knit technology.

While Vessi is a proudly Canadian-designed brand headquartered in Vancouver, its manufacturing process spans across Asia. The company originally emphasized its use of a specialized factory in Taiwan, leveraging the region's historical expertise in high-end athletic footwear production. Today, Vessi products are manufactured in multiple locations, including Taiwan, Vietnam, China, and Cambodia, to support its global supply chain. The brand remains an independent, privately owned Canadian company (Vessi Footwear Ltd.), continuing to expand from a direct-to-consumer online startup into a physical retail presence across North America.