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.
“It’s an art form,” Longley said with a smile, running his fingertip across the footwear, feeling for any rough edges. “That is a beautiful thing.”
Longley has this art down to a science – and it’s no wonder since he’s been making Rainbow Sandals at the same San Clemente shop for 50 years – a career that started with the early-era surfer wanting an alternative to the cheap sandals that were snapping as he trudged across the sand.
What Longley created wasn’t just a sandal that lasts for years, but a product that can continue its journey long after the original owner wears the shoe down, giving it a second life helping a person in need.
And while building a successful brand, Longley has quietly given away millions of dollars and millions of pounds of food through the years, supporting nonprofits spanning from food banks to women’s shelters, as well as community groups helping kids explore the ocean and countless other charities that assist people in need.
“I would never retire,” Longley said one recent day while getting ready for a party to mark the 50-year milestone of opening his first shop in San Clemente, a celebration that included giving away $50,000 to local charities for his 80th birthday. “Why would I do that, when I could help someone else?”
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 County Supervisor Katrina Foley, third from left, in San Clemente on Friday, June 21, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Rainbow Sandals founder Jay “Sparky” Longley, right, addresses the crowd at a celebration marking his fifty years in business making hand-made sandals in San Clemente on Friday, June 21, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Rainbow Sandals celebrates fifty years in business in San Clemente on Friday, June 21, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Surfer and surfboard maker Gerry Lopez, left, with his friend Jay “Sparky” Longley, right, at Longley’s Rainbow Sandals store in San Clemente on Friday, June 21, 2024. Longley was celebrating fifty years in business producing hand-made sandals. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
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. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Gerry Lopez, right, surfer and surfboard maker, greets fan Rick Meumann during the 50th anniversary celebration of Rainbow Sandals in San Clemente on Friday, June 21, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Rainbow Sandals founder Jay “Sparky” Longley, center, is honored by Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley during a celebration marking fifty years in business
Source:: The Mercury News – Entertainment
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