Footwear Insight

to ensure an authentic feeling of well-being through its technologies." - Mario Moretti Polegato, founder, Geox "Shoes are paramount to the comfort and alignment of our bodies. e shoe should support the foot in the arch and around the heel to provide stability. We allow the wearer to achieve the best fit with a full run assortment of American sizing, as well as medium and wide widths." - Matt Dieckhaus, VP of sales and marketing, Latitudes Inc. (KLOGS) "Active Recovery is one of the fastest growing categories in the footwear industry. As people think more and more about living a healthy lifestyle, they think of diet, sleep and exercise. An extension of exercise is wearing great shoes all day that fit well, are comfortable and are engineered for maximum benefit when you walk." - Brad Bischel, co-founder, Velous Footwear "Previously we found that the majority of customers looking for wellness footwear were recommended by a podiatrist or alternative healthcare professionals. Now we find that many consumers find out about the category through more traditional routes." - Sam Wright, managing director, Strive Footwear "People are gravitating more towards footwear and apparel that's multi-use — something comfortable you can wear around the house, to work, to the gym. Plenty of recovery shoes offer a plush, cushioned foam that feels good right when you slip it on. For the Revive, however, we wanted to cra a shoe that balances the structure and support you need for all-day wear with a cushioned feeling." - John Gagliardi, founder, Kane Footwear "Regardless of where someone is in their wellness journey, they are spending a great deal of time on their feet; walking, standing and moving, typically on hard, unnatural surfaces. While most performance foams provide high-rebound energy return properties, for the times when one is not working out or playing sports, it is more important to have footwear that can absorb impact, have a slower rebound and mimic what it's like to move on soer, more forgiving surfaces." - Steve Gallo, president, OOFOS "Ensuring you're striking the right balance between comfort and aesthetics is crucial in today's footwear market. It is imperative that anyone looking for all day comfort has a footbed that meets their anatomical needs." - Bobby Kanter, co-founder, Anodyne "e wellness trend helped tremendously with the launch of our sandals. With the arch support and underfoot comfort, our sandals fit neatly into the 'recovery' category. Arch support is one key component since it helps prevent foot fatigue. Resilient and durable arch support, that is." – Mark Paigen, founder, Tread Labs "Since we first introduced the classic support and comfort of our professional clog in 1990, we've continued to provide legendary comfort to promote wellness and self-care. Each season we add vibrant colors to boost your mood, encouraging emotional and physical healthy living." – Kitty Bolinger, EVP of sales and marketing, Dansko "Women's wellness has been our core value since we began in Australia in 2011, so we've never seen this as a trend, but more of a necessity. Each new design goes through rigorous wear testing that can last up to three months before hitting shelves, so we never let our customer down on comfort." - Cathy Barnett, global CEO, FRANKIE4 "Being active is a major component to any healthy lifestyle. Shoes should be lightweight, breathable, and comfortable. Combining innovative comfort technologies and signature performance features, our shoes are designed to help maximize results through any type of workout—whether it's a leisurely stroll or competing in a marathon." - Kathy Kartalis, SVP of Global Product, Skechers "Comfort starts from the ground up. It's important to have the proper shoes to contribute to joint health, circulatory health, and general well-being. Our shoes won't bind or pinch the feet, and our new collection promotes healthy circulation and movement." - Sydney Simas, VP of sales and marketing, Simco Imported Shoes, Arcopedico "e Health and Wellness trend has helped solidify Mephisto's U.S. growth. Mephisto has long believed that the health of the body starts with the support of a great shoe. e foundation of the foot needs support and the back needs shock absorption to keep pain from entering our lives. Our built in support measures and 'So Air' cushioning maintains health and wellness for our consumer." - Rusty Hall, president & CEO, Mephisto USA 32 • Footwear Insight ~ March/April 2023 footwearinsight.com WELLNESS / GOOD VIBES JOYA/VELOCE e Veloce is a breathable and lightweight mesh lace-up shoe with a smoothly padded tongue, perfect for athletic endeavors and everyday wear. Joya's Active sole technology guarantees an ideal combination of cushioning, rebound and stability. Available now for women. MSRP $239.95.

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