07 Feb The Top 5 Orthotic Friendly Women’s Shoes in Australia
“We make great looking, super-comfy shoes and we employ only the best human beings to look after our customers.”
Anna Baird is the podiatrist behind Bared Footwear. Frustrated with the shoe options for her patients, she started her brand 11 years ago to fill the HUGE gap in the market for fashionable orthopedic shoes. I have worn orthotics since I was 8 years old and I can say, hand on my heart, these shoes are the sexiest orthopedic shoes in the world! They also easily have the best customer service I have ever come across in any retail company. They continue to work towards a more ethical and environmentally friendly business model, recently introducing new sugar cane-based footbeds. This renewable resource is a step in the right direction away from petroleum-based materials. Bared prides itself on how well it looks after its staff in its Melbourne stores as well as its manufacturing facilities in China, Portugal and Brazil. The downside, for anyone outside of Melbourne, you have to order online. I am not even sure if this is a downside, as Bared offers free delivery for orders over $149 WORLDWIDE and free returns for Aussies and Kiwis. So if you get the wrong size, colour or style for your foot, no worries! Just send them back! They are not cheap, but it’s quality over quantity with these gorgeous shoes. If you are not convinced, have a trawl through the THOUSANDS of online reviews. They also pledge to give 1% of their annual profits to charity.
Caroline McCulloch is Frankie4 Footwear’s Founder, Designer, and Alana’s university friend. Yes, that’s right she is also a registered podiatrist and physiotherapist! Talk about a high achiever! The name FRANK is the name of her beloved dog and the “4” stands for the 4 core values of her company- innovative design, fashion, service, and giving back. This brand has a huge range of orthotic-friendly shoes as well as slides, heels, and sandals with built-in arch support. Frankie4 has a real cult following amongst teachers, hairdressers, and health professionals to provide all-day comfort. It helps that they offer those people a nice little discount too (find their Professional Privilege program on their website!). I have 3 pairs and counting, the hero for me is their leather boot range, it will make you drool with excitement.
Online they offer free delivery for orders over $100 and a 45-day change of mind policy (unfortunately only an online credit, no refunds). They have virtual assistance online to help you choose wisely for your foot type and intended use. If you would like a more personal touch you can go to one of their concept stores in Brisbane (Windsor and Indooroopilly), Sydney, and Melbourne.
For the Sunshine Coast, I have attached a list of local stockists to check out:
- Shannon’s Shoes – Bullcock Street Caloundra – https://shannonsshoes.com.au/ (Get 10% off if you join their subscription list online)
- Footgear – Sunshine Plaza Maroochydore- https://footgear.com.au/ ($20 off when you spend over $150)
- Suna Shoes – Kawana Shopping World- https://www.suna.com.au/ ($10 off your first order when you sign up online)
Revere was founded on the Gold Coast in 2012 with a vision to create vision beautifully crafted quality comfort shoes. This brand does have something for every foot shape, with multiple adjustable straps on the sandals, with matching extender straps if need be. Some styles also come in wider fittings. The footbed is Velcro-ed into the sole of the shoe for easy removal and replacement with your custom orthotic! For those who don’t need their custom orthotic, just a quality shoe, you can replace the footbeds for $25 when they get worn out and your shoes will be as good as new.
See the whole range through our affiliate site so you still support a local small business, or get the silver service from us in the clinic!
https://www.globalfootcare.com.au/sports-and-structural-podiatry-affiliate
Do you remember “Orthoheel” thongs? The ugliest (but very comfortable) brand of shoes that were often found in a pharmacy? Well, this brand got a shake-up in 2015, determined to move away from its “old lady shoe” image. Their brand has expanded since then to include some really lovely shoes from boots to sports shoes, sandals to heels that boast their custom footbed that made those “Orthoheel” thongs and shoes so comfortable. These shoes specifically have been involved in research around reducing plantar heel pain. Try it for yourself with the Vionic 30-day comfort guarantee – they will give you 30 days of wear-testing to make sure you love them and if you’re still not convinced, they will refund your purchase back. Vionic Shoes was founded on podiatry principles and are a global company, recognised by the American Podiatrists Medical Association (APMA) and Oprah herself! Here are a few of the great styles you can find in our clinic:
https://www.globalfootcare.com.au/sports-and-structural-podiatry-affiliate
For those with toe deformities (claw toes, bunions, hammer toes, ingrown nails, etc), these are a top pick of mine at the moment. Weighing in less than a pair of thongs and made of the softest material so as not to rub on those toes! Some of you may have spotted my black work shoes, my absolute favourites. With my early osteoarthritis, not wearing my orthotics is not an option and these fit all the varieties of orthotics I have made for myself over the years. The Derbys come in the funkiest colours. They have soft leather and also a vegan-friendly range. The mules, ballet flats, and slides are not orthotic-friendly (but very cute).
Online shopping https://www.rollienation.com/collections/womens
Store locator: There are too many to list! So simply type in your postcode and away you go!
https://www.rollienation.com/pages/store-locator-1
Honorable Mentions:
Special mentions to some known and loved orthotic-friendly brands. We just didn’t have time to get to you all!!
Ecco shoes- https://au.ecco.com/
Naot shoes – https://www.naotshoes.com.au/
Klouds – https://www.klouds.com/women/specialised-fittings/orthotic-friendly
Ziera who has come back from the dead after being sold at the very last minute! https://www.zierashoes.com.au/style.html?footbed=30533-30547-30532
Even River’s has an orthotic-friendly ladies’ sandal range for those on a budget. – https://www.rivers.com.au/brands/orthofit
If you have a favourite brand you would like everyone to know more about, send me an email I would love to hear from you- hannah@sportspodiatry.com.au
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