Footwear_Jan10_p3:Footwear_Jan10_p3 22/12/2009 13:40 Page 3
CONTENTS
FROM THE EDITOR
Does size matter?
4
INDUSTRY NEWS
W
ell, it does when it comes to shoes! At Footwear Today
10
MISFIT
we find when we are sent shoes to road test, that a
size 10 from one manufacturer can be size nine or size
12
AGENT PROVOCATEUR
11 from another. Half sizes aren’t available in
continental shoes, which only exacerbates the problem. In
14
EDITOR'S CHOICE
Men’s formal footwear
this New Year edition we pitch some questions to Laura West,
Secretary of The Society of Shoe Fitters, to find out her
26
CHILDREN’S FOOTWEAR
views. If you would like to tell us your views, please e-mail
your comments to: cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com.
28
SOFTWAVES
Children grow so fast that they always seem to need new
shoes. But, many children squeeze their growing feet into
30
FASHION FOCUS
shoes that are a size too small for them. They wear shoes
that will cause problems later in life, from foot problems to
32
CARE
back problems, arising from being poorly shod.
In this issue we also talk to Gordon Watt, a consultant
33
SOLE COMPANY PROFILE
paediatric podiatrist at Glasgow Caledonian University about
problems arising from ill-fitting shoes. We also talk to the
34
TALKING SHOP
Society of Shoe Fitters about how to fit children’s shoes and
take a look at some of the latest shoes that we hope will
40
LEGAL
appeal to parents’ pockets and to the children’s sense of
style. Sensible shoes don’t have to look sensible, and if you
41
CLASSIFIED
can get your kids to wear good shoes you are making an
investment in their health for the rest of their lives.
Comfort and style raise themselves again in the issue of
FRONT COVER: SOFTWAVES
high heels in the work place. In the autumn, the Trade Union
In a world full of commodities, Shoe
Congress raised the question as to why some women have to
Conception became smarter and more
wear high heels in the workplace – and men do not. The
sophisticated. This is a company who
obvious solution is that all men should be obliged to wear
challenge the limits of Shoe Engineering
high heels to work. Well… you could imagine the reaction of
and creates supreme products for daily
bear-cheeked builders (yes, those cheeks), and pin stripped
use. Because, for ComforSyst SA, only
bankers tottering around in high heels because they were
one thing really matters: how
required to do to keep their jobs. They may start thinking the
comfortable and beautiful you are.
TUC has point – a stiletto point!
Wellington boots came to the rescue of our intrepid
+351 256 880 510. www.softwaves.pt
footwear reporter Henry Harington in his quest to round up
wild ponies on Dartmoor. Walking the ‘Drift’, as it’s known, is a EDITOR Cheryl Taylor: cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com
tough test for even the best walking boot: it involves climbing
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Adam Bernstein
amidst the gorse to the summit of Honeybag Tor to drive the
ADVERTISEMENT MANAGER
ponies over Chinkwell and down to Bone Hill rocks. The
John Andrews: 01622 699135 jandrews@datateam.co.uk
ORIGINATION Steve Bevis
Hunter Balmoral Bamboo Carbon passed the off-road test
ADMINISTRATION Ellie Straton
with flying colours. A supremely comfortable boot, it is PUBLISHER Paul Ryder: pryder@datateam.co.uk
designed for those who will stand in wetlands for hours on
end waiting for a duck or goose to come into their sights. The
boot boasts a charcoal fleece lining, the thermal properties of
which Hunter claim, “improve blood circulation thereby
Published by: Datateam Business Media Ltd, London Road,
keeping the foot warm”.
Maidstone, Kent ME16 8LY. Media Partner of the
STAG Buying Group
Tel: 01622 687031 Fax: 01622 757646
We have a new column for 2010 – Agent Provocateur – I’m
email: footwear@datateam.co.uk website: www.datateam.co.uk
sworn to secrecy on the identity of the writer, therefore my
ISSN 1475 8601
lips are sealed, except to say that you will be acquainted with
The Publishers cannot accept responsibility for any discrepancies either in copy or between
this charismatic footwear industry figure! products and/or services listed. Nor can they be responsible for illustrations and/or copy for
May I take this opportunity to wish all our readers a very
products which lead to infringement of copyright.
happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.
Cheryl Taylor,
IFRA, BFA and Society of Shoe Fitters all support
Editor
Footwear Today as a valuable forum for the footwear
DL 01622 862962
industry, helping to promote trade and keeping
retailers informed about the latest products and
E: cheryltayloreditor@googlemail.com
developments.
To receive your own regular copy of footwear today, please visit www.footweartoday.co.uk/registration JANUARY 2010
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FOOTWEAR TODAY
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