Comfortable high heels
Women have always favoured high heels for a number of reasons. As they are usually smaller in stature than men, high heels make them taller and this makes them feel more confident and empowered.
They also tighten the calf muscles making legs look slimmer and more seductive. However, this comes at a price in terms of comfort as high heels can become extremely uncomfortable if worn for a long time as they place all of the wearer’s weight on the front of the foot. This places extreme pressure on the ends of the metatarsal bones and joints, increasing the risk of stress fractures and neuromas (disorganised growth of nerve cells at the site of a nerve injury) among other potential injuries. It is no wonder that most women end up preferring flat, comfortable shoes despite the age old appeal of high-heels.
Italian company Gait-Tech says that it has the answer and that it is the first company to integrate a biomechanical solution in the insole of high heeled shoes during the production stage without compromising design and stylistic aspects. The device received an official certificate from the Orthopedic Institute Rizzoli Bologna and has earned an international patent for the innovative invention from the official Italian Office of Patents and Trademarks – Ministry for Economic Development. The device is designed to improve the sustainability of human health, posture and gait through improving the comfort of high heels and is based on many years of research and in-depth studies. Made from recycled polymer, the biomechanical device consists of specific and differentiated support surfaces for each single metatarsal head to redistribute pressure on the ground and cushion impact.
There have been various devices over the years that have approached this problem but have been too bulky for use in refined fashion designs. Gait-Tech says this new device does work and to emphasise this fact, footwear designer Diego Dolcini has been appointed creative director. Dolcini has built a reputation working with leading fashion manufacturers such as Gucci, Emilio Pucci, Narciso Rodriguez, Vionnet and Balmain. He will be in charge of a capsule collection that will include the device and which is scheduled for this spring. He says that at first he was rather sceptical but then realised the device did not affect the aesthetics of the shoe and was really revolutionary. “Technology is often seen as being ugly when applied to fashion but this device does not change the style of a shoe. It offers comfort and balance, better cushioning, less pain and you don’t see it.”
Marcello Benetti, Global Head of Legal at Gait-Tech is equally confident as to the value of this development and says, “To us, the massive disconnect between the feminine, sensual aesthetic of high heels and the physical pain they cause women was maddening. With technology doing such brilliant things in the 21st century it was simply unreasonable not to find a solution to this. This vision led to the development of Gait-Tech and we’re thrilled to offer it to the women of the world.” If the device works as well as the company claims and there is no reason to thinks that it does not, there will be a huge number of women around the world who will thank him. The following images show how the device works.
All Credits: GAIT-TECH
