More Than Pretty: A New Generation of Shoes Designed For Function

Traditionally, the factors that have gone into designing a shoe are tied to style, as opposed to fit. From bunion–causing, cramped leather shoes, to flip flops offering little foot support, if a pair of shoes leads to aching feet at the end of the day or back pain, it is, as they say, the price of fashion. But with an aging population, advances across the board in performance shoe materials, and growing demand for shoes that look good and also fit well, a new design perspective has begun to emerge.