There are footprints you can’t see, but they’re still there.
In Barcelona, every day thousands of footsteps cross the streets. Some rush to work, others stroll without hurry, others are simply looking for a place to rest. But among all those steps, there are some almost no one stops to notice: those of the more than 1,300 people who live on the streets.
They also leave footprints. Footprints that travel kilometres in search of shelter, a bathroom, a hot meal. Footprints that endure the cold and exhaustion. Invisible footprints that deserve to be seen.
That’s where Pisadas Visibles was born, an initiative that turns an everyday gesture like putting on a pair of socks into an act of empathy. A project that brings together ROSAPARKS (a creative consultancy specialised in social impact), Arrels Fundació (which has been supporting homeless people in Barcelona since 1987), the illustrator Javirroyo and us, American Socks, with a simple but powerful idea: to shine a light on homelessness through design and solidarity.
A project that walks with purpose
The idea came up during a creative meeting driven by ROSAPARKS, where different NGOs and creative minds came together to explore new ways of communicating social causes. From that connection came the seed of what is now “Pisadas Visibles”: socks that don’t just keep you warm, but reveal what we often ignore – and they’re already available at the Arrels shop (C/ Ample 3, Barcelona).
From American Socks, we brought what we know how to do best: making urban-soul socks, sustainable and packed with meaning. We donated 300 pairs to be sold through Arrels and produced 200 more that will be distributed through our channels. All the money raised will go entirely to the foundation’s programmes.
Because every step, no matter how small it seems, can bring us closer to a more just, more aware, more human city.
Socks that warm, support and accompany
It may sound simple, but a sock can mean much more than we imagine.
For those living on the street, a clean pair of socks can be the difference between getting by or getting sick. It’s a barrier against the cold, protection from the pavement, a gesture of care.
We like to think that, in a way, a sock is also a small home. It wraps, protects and keeps you warm. It’s the minimum shelter that travels with your steps when there is no roof. And beyond the physical, it symbolises something deeper: support. Socks are made to hold your feet, to cushion the road. In this project, they become a symbolic support for those who walk without a fixed destination.
As Javirroyo, the illustrator, says:
“Socks are the second skin of those who live on the street.”
Their design, with simple lines but full of meaning, reflects that mix of resilience and vulnerability. For us at American Socks, collaborating on this initiative is not just about design or production; it’s a way of using what we love to take a real step towards change.
When design becomes activism
At American Socks we believe creativity can move mountains… or at least, move people’s conscience.
Our essence has always been tied to the streets: to freedom, expression and movement. But this time, those same streets remind us of another side: the people who live in them without a choice.
“Pisadas Visibles” turns design into a universal language. A pair of socks can be just a garment, yes, but it can also be a statement: the statement of not looking the other way, of understanding that every step counts, including the ones we take to get closer to others.
Each person who buys a pair of these socks is helping to fund real programmes for housing, social care and support. It’s a simple but powerful way to walk together.
Seeing the footprints others don’t see
This campaign is not about looking down, but about looking with empathy. Because behind every footprint there is a story, and behind every pair of socks, an opportunity to change something.
From American Socks, we feel proud to be part of this collaboration that brings together art, activism and social commitment. We want everyone who puts on these socks to remember that not every step leaves a visible mark, but every footprint matters.
We’d like to thank ROSAPARKS, Arrels Fundació and Javirroyo for trusting us and allowing an everyday gesture like putting on a pair of socks to become an act of care and visibility.
Behind every pair of socks there is a story walking. Stories that endure, that dream, that deserve to keep moving forward.
With “Pisadas Visibles”, we want those stories to be seen, heard and felt in every step.
Because we all leave footprints, but not all of them are seen.
And this initiative wants to make sure none of them stay in the shadows. Every pair counts.
Buy and support: Arrels Shop (C/ Ample 3, Barcelona)
