Shoes

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Interesting facts 

MiaSnow

Fishy Footwear

In a new industry in the Andes Mountains of Peru, shoes are being made from trout skin, reports El Comercio newspaper of Lima. The skins of fish from hatcheries or fish farms are cleaned and cured with natural tanners. Next they are oiled and then dyed with natural products such as turmeric, cochineal, or achiote. This treatment does not destroy the attractive diamondlike design on the skins, which can also be fashioned into “coin purses, wallets, watchbands, or cellular phone covers.” Says industrial engineer Barbara León, who spearheaded the project: “The most important thing is that no artificial tanner such as chromium is ever used. This avoids contamination problems and makes the trout skin a totally ecological product.”

What About Women’s High-Heeled Shoes?

The female preference for high heels imposes different stresses on the body. High heels tend to alter body posture, often causing a forward tilt, which, in turn, demands more knee bend in order to keep the body straight. High heels also contract the calf muscles, which then become more prominent.

Thus, the heel is often the crucial part of a woman’s shoe and the key to her comfort or discomfort. Professional Shoe Fitting says that there are three prime reasons for the heels on shoes:

 ,(1) “status,” such as adding to one’s height, 

(2) cosmetic purposes—an added design or style feature on the shoe, 

(3) enhanced appearance—such as women’s high heels giving more contour to the legs.’

Women should be particularly conscious of the heel pitch, which determines where the line of the body weight passes through the heel. If that line is at the rear or front edge of the heel, trouble could result. Why is that? Because it can lead to the heel buckling and causing a nasty fall.

From this brief discussion, it is evident that getting the right fit of shoes takes time and perhaps even extra expense, since a good shoe requires more time to produce. But your shoes can mean so much to your general comfort and even to your health. So take your time. Get proper measurements. Be patient. Do not be fooled by fashion or appearances!!!

Points to Watch When Choosing Shoes

  William A. Rossi and Ross Tennant offer the following suggestions in their book Professional Shoe Fitting:

  “The purpose of measuring the foot is not, as supposed, to determine the precise shoe size required.” Why is that? Because shoe sizes can be affected by many factors, such as heel height, style, patterns, materials used, and brand. This is especially true today when footwear is being manufactured in so many countries with varying standards.

  When your foot is measured, pull the toe of the sock or stocking forward so that the toes are not bent, resulting in a false reading.

  How should you be measured—seated or standing? “To measure with the customer seated is the lazy way.” It results in a false reading. Therefore, stand up to have your feet measured. Yes, both feet. Do not assume that the left foot is the larger. Measure both!

  “Professional shoe fitting is a skill and service that is the exclusive territory of an elite corps of individuals associated with an equally elite legion of stores who understand and appreciate the importance of highly skilled shoe fitting.”