Are Asian Feet Different?
Is the shape of an Asian foot different from a Western one?
Apparently, that’s what the luxury shoe brand Rupert Sanderson is banking on with its new line, which it says is tailored to an Asian foot. The shoes will hit shelves in its Hong Kong boutique next month.
The brand, also sold at Lane Crawford, is managed in Asia by Bruton Limited, a Hong Kong-based company headed by Bertrand Mak and Teresa Wong.
“We basically developed a new last [the mold on which a shoe is built] that is tailor-made for the Asian foot,” says Mr. Mak. “We’re trying to make a four-inch [10-centimeter] heel more comfortable.”
According to Mr. Mak, Asian feet tend to be higher-arched and narrower than their Western counterparts. The custom mold will provide greater support for the instep, says Mr. Mak, and make the heel “feel considerably lower” — indeed, half as high.
Science, though, disputes Mr. Mak’s claims.
“Asian feet tend to be slightly broader in the forefoot and they have a lower arch profile,” says Hong Kong podiatrist Alexandra Duff, who has been practicing for 15 years. In fact, she says, about 80% of Asians are flat-footed — more than any other ethnic group.
Mr. Mak admits that he did not consult a podiatrist in making the mold. Instead, his research consisted of speaking with friends and customers. “I have no interest in going into the technical aspects of making a shoe,” he says. The mold was also created from the casting of a single foot: that of business partner Teresa Wong, who he says has very high arches.
“Of course it’s not very accurate; every foot is different,” admits Mr. Mak. “We took a more pragmatic approach — our customers were saying that the shoe styles did not feel supported.”
But extra support for the arches will do little to alleviate the damage high heels inflict on women’s bodies, says Dr. Duff, who recommends that women stick to heels under 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters).
“Once you go over that, your foot doesn’t work properly at all,” she says. “It’ll increase lower-back pain and give you knee issues.”
As for the Rupert Sanderson mold? “You’re just putting a little build-up in the inside of the shoe, but it’s still a four-inch heel,” she says. “It’s like wearing a pair of Jimmy Choos with an insole in it.”
MY THOUGHTS
i never really thought of the differences. i know we Asians can wear shoes made outside of our continent. it's true though that our feet are smaller but broader and we have a lot of flat-footed individuals. so, this may well be a welcome change. we Asians must be one big market for shoes if someone had taken the risk to specialize on beautiful shoes for Asian feet.
Is the shape of an Asian foot different from a Western one?
Apparently, that’s what the luxury shoe brand Rupert Sanderson is banking on with its new line, which it says is tailored to an Asian foot. The shoes will hit shelves in its Hong Kong boutique next month.
The brand, also sold at Lane Crawford, is managed in Asia by Bruton Limited, a Hong Kong-based company headed by Bertrand Mak and Teresa Wong.
“We basically developed a new last [the mold on which a shoe is built] that is tailor-made for the Asian foot,” says Mr. Mak. “We’re trying to make a four-inch [10-centimeter] heel more comfortable.”
According to Mr. Mak, Asian feet tend to be higher-arched and narrower than their Western counterparts. The custom mold will provide greater support for the instep, says Mr. Mak, and make the heel “feel considerably lower” — indeed, half as high.
Science, though, disputes Mr. Mak’s claims.
“Asian feet tend to be slightly broader in the forefoot and they have a lower arch profile,” says Hong Kong podiatrist Alexandra Duff, who has been practicing for 15 years. In fact, she says, about 80% of Asians are flat-footed — more than any other ethnic group.
Mr. Mak admits that he did not consult a podiatrist in making the mold. Instead, his research consisted of speaking with friends and customers. “I have no interest in going into the technical aspects of making a shoe,” he says. The mold was also created from the casting of a single foot: that of business partner Teresa Wong, who he says has very high arches.
“Of course it’s not very accurate; every foot is different,” admits Mr. Mak. “We took a more pragmatic approach — our customers were saying that the shoe styles did not feel supported.”
But extra support for the arches will do little to alleviate the damage high heels inflict on women’s bodies, says Dr. Duff, who recommends that women stick to heels under 1.5 inches (3.8 centimeters).
“Once you go over that, your foot doesn’t work properly at all,” she says. “It’ll increase lower-back pain and give you knee issues.”
As for the Rupert Sanderson mold? “You’re just putting a little build-up in the inside of the shoe, but it’s still a four-inch heel,” she says. “It’s like wearing a pair of Jimmy Choos with an insole in it.”
MY THOUGHTS
i never really thought of the differences. i know we Asians can wear shoes made outside of our continent. it's true though that our feet are smaller but broader and we have a lot of flat-footed individuals. so, this may well be a welcome change. we Asians must be one big market for shoes if someone had taken the risk to specialize on beautiful shoes for Asian feet.
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