The Footwear Hub, a new central resource for foot health information spearheaded by independent shoe fitters, will join this summer’s INDX National Kids Footwear Show on 6-7 July. The initiative aims to become a national point of reference for foot health information, potentially offering guidance on choosing the right shoes, understanding foot conditions, and finding qualified fitters.
With the rise of independent shoe shops closing there has been a groundswell of feeling among the remaining businesses that they should come together to offer a central hub of excellence for information and services for those people who want to do the best for their feet and their children’s.
Nadia Arden-Scott (pictured), co-founder of the Footwear Hub, an ex-president of the Society of Shoe Fitters and owner of ShuZu Shoes in Farnborough, has been working with Tanya Marriott, owner of children’s shoe shop SoleLution in Portishead, to create the Footwear Hub. The aim is to encourage collaboration between footwear and healthcare professionals and raise public awareness about the importance of proper shoe fitting.
Footwear is the only item of clothing that can have long term effects on health and wellbeing. Children’s feet continue to grow and change until the age of 18, requiring regular assessment, as Arden-Scott explains.
“Wearing clothing that is too small or large will not cause any pain or long-term health issues. Footwear, on the other hand, is a whole other ball game. Properly fitting shoes are crucial, especially for the development of children’s feet.”
Launched just in time for the busy Back to School season, Footwearhub.org is where you can find easy to understand information about foot development, foot health, and what makes a good fit when buying shoes, as well as an interactive directory of members. You can find your nearest skilled shoe fitter, all of whom have been trained to put foot health first and can offer advice and fit a range of quality footwear in different sizes and width fittings.
The Footwear Hub is here to promote the importance of being measured and assessed, no matter what age, and to emphasise the connection between properly fitted shoes and good foot health. Properly fitting footwear can prevent a myriad of problems including migraines, back ache, knee pain and foot pain, while self-fitting the wrong size or style of shoe can cause corns, blisters, joint pain and nerve problems.
For further information on the Footwear Hub, please click here.