Foot foul

Article published in Gulf News for Foot odour problem & preventive measures

www.gallery.hd.org

Choose sandals and open shoes instead of closed shoes to allow your feet to breathe.

Foot foul

By Ritu Raizada, Lifestyle Features Coordinator Published: June 27, 2008, 00:07

If you have feet that sweat excessively, they can disrupt all aspects of your life – from work, to sleep, to recreational activities. When feet sweat, socks and shoes are immediately affected. Socks often need to be changed frequently throughout the day. Sufferers also have difficulty keeping sandals and other open shoes on their feet. Because they perspire heavily, feet keep slipping out of such footwear making walking not just difficult but also dangerous. For instance, walking in high-heeled open shoes can become dangerous if your feet keep slipping out of your footwear. Foot fresheners While there is no permanent cure for this, a feet deodorant is a great option to help control the condition. “Applying an antiperspirant to your soles before bed will help curb sweat,” says Yolanda Joubert, senior buyer for ladies footwear, Shoe Mart, Landmark Group. “When buying shoes in the UAE summer months, look for those that are made of natural materials like leather that can help prevent sweat by allowing the feet to breathe. “Choose sandals and open shoes instead of closed shoes. When wearing closed shoes, look for those that have cotton or other absorbent linings. Preferably, use absorbent shoe liners as these are specifically made for closed and open shoes.” She suggests wearing socks made of natural fibres when stepping out in shoes. “Also, such people should change their socks every day,” says Yolanda. “Make it a point to use loose insoles to protect your socks and feet. If you have removable insoles, pull them out of your shoes at the end of the day. This way, the insole as well as the shoe can dry out. Insoles should be replaced often to decrease the odour within the shoe. This will also decrease your chances of contracting a fungal infection. Shoe liners may need to be changed weekly or monthly, depending on your perspiration levels. Luckily they are fairly inexpensive. You might also opt for absorbent shoe liners.” Yolanda warns against wearing the same shoes two days in a row. Shoes take more than 24 hours to dry out so it makes sense to have more than one pair of shoes. This way you can change them every day. “When possible, wear sandals rather than shoes. This also eliminates constant pressure on the same spot of the foot.” Wear thick, soft socks to help draw moisture away from the feet. “Cotton and other absorbent materials are best,” says Yolanda. “There are no shortcuts but with a few simple techniques, individuals can reduce perspiration in terribly sweaty feet.” Soak away your troubles Foot care in summer is not limited to what shoes you choose. According to Yolanda, you should also pay close attention to how you treat your feet. “Wash your feet morning and evening in warm – not hot – water using a natural antibacterial soap,” she suggests. “Rinse your feet in cold water and dry thoroughly, especially between the toes. Sprinkle feet with talcum powder containing lavender, lemon and/or tea tree oil.” Try soaking your feet in black tea water for 30 minutes a day for seven to 10 days. To prepare the soak, brew two teabags per litre of water. “Black tea has tannic acid,” says Yolanda, “which is anti-bacterial by nature. “Consider relaxation techniques such as yoga, meditation or biofeedback. These can help control stress that triggers perspiration.” Soaking sweaty feet in cider vinegar and warm water (one part vinegar to two parts warm water) for about an hour a day will help too. Alternatively, using aromatic massage oil containing peppermint and cypress oils help reduce perspiration. Add eight drops of cypress oil and two drops of peppermint oil to 25 ml of sweet almond oil and massage into your feet twice a day. “But avoid using cream between the toes,” warns Yolanda. Medical intervention Your final option in the case of excessive sweating would be to refer to a podiatrist or dermatologist about prescription antiperspirants. While over-the-counter antiperspirants may help, a doctor can offer prescription products that really reduce issues and cure sweaty feet. If you have a very difficult foot odour problem, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic like two per cent erythromycin or one per cent clindamycin, applied each morning and at bedtime. These medications will be effective in killing most odour-causing bacteria. Acetic acid footbaths can be effective in drying up sweat glands, if treatments are given three times a day. Another footbath technique is iontophoresis. The feet are immersed in a pan of water and low electric current is applied. Iontophoresis is not a cure for excessive sweating, but it usually provides temporary relief, if applied frequently. Note: This should be done only under medical supervision. Foot notes Dr Sami Tabib, a podiatrist at Dubai Chiropody Centre, Jumeirah Beach Road, tackles a few common summer feet conundrums: How do I combat stinking footwear? First, practise good foot hygiene to keep bacteria levels at a minimum. Bathe your feet daily in warm water then dry them well. Change your socks frequently, especially after exercising. Dust your feet frequently with a non-medicated baby powder or foot powder. Applying antibacterial ointment also may help. Allow your shoes to air out at least 24 hours after use by alternating with other shoes. Avoid wearing nylon socks or plastic shoes. Wear shoes made of leather, canvas, mesh or other materials that let your feet breathe. Wear thick, soft socks to help draw moisture away from the feet. Cotton and other absorbent materials are best. Look for fungal infections between your toes and on the soles of your feet and if you spot redness and dry skin, get treatment. Do regular pedicures help to keep feet clean and healthy? Pedicures are good if they’re done properly and without aggressive intervention such as cutting cuticles or cutting deep into the nail corners. Maintaining good foot hygiene is enough to keep your feet in good shape. What is the correct way to wash feet and how many times should a person wash them every day? Scrub your feet daily with a washcloth and antibacterial soap, and dry them thoroughly with a clean towel. Make sure to dry between the toes. This should be done at least once a day. How frequently should socks be washed? Clean socks are the best defence against bromohydrosis. Socks should be washed daily. Pure cotton socks are better than wool or those made with fibres that don’t breathe. Even better are the new synthetic fibres specially designed to wick away moisture. Check the label for that claim. What is the role of shoe-liners and antiperspirants? Do they actually work? Ultra-absorbent soles provide a specially blended wool fabric that is not tightly woven. They have small air crevices between the interlocked fibres that are able to capture perspiration from sweaty feet and as pressure is applied while walking, this perspiration slowly moves to the sides of the insole where it dissipates. The result is that the plantar foot stays drier, and remains unaffected by friction with shoes. What types of footwear should men,women and children purchase during summer? Open sandals are best to keep the feet aerated during the hot summer months. These sandals, however, are only for casual walking and cannot handle the impact of long distances. If you are going to walk long distances, use trainers to prevent blisters and pain resulting from walking in sandals with no support. Are there any shortcuts to reduce excessively perspiring feet? When sweating is excessive it is called hyperhydrosis. Consult a podiatrist for a remedy.

When the shoe fits the pocket

No woman who buys Jimmy Choo or Prada is buying comfort or taking care of the arches of her feet. Often, she is actually buying discomfort, given how high the heels can be. Admittedly, there are shoemakers-Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin, for instance? Read

read more | digg story

Wear shoes that are even slightly tight, and you will be unable to stand. Try running in shoes that are not meant for that purpose, and your feet will hurt for weeks

Pursuits | Vir Sanghvi Posted: Fri, Jun 27 2008

After all my sneering about women and handbags in previous editions of this column, I now have to try and defend the male of the species. I’ve always found it extraordinary that women are prepared to pay as much for a handbag as the rest of us would pay for a small car. It isn’t that the bag itself is particularly expensive to make. Markups of 800% or more are routine. But clever marketers have persuaded women that an ‘it’ bag or a limited edition handbag are so desirable that the prices should bear no relation to the cost of manufacture.

For happy feet: Gucci shoes for men can cost as much as a Louis Vuitton purse. Photograph: Harikrishna Katragadda / Mint / Gucci Showroom, The Oberoi, New Delhi

Many women have pointed out to me that such sneers could easily be directed at men as well. Sure, we don’t use handbags. But we do wear shoes. And unscrupulous marketers are able to extract such high premiums from vain men that we seem almost as foolish as the women who pay thousands of dollars for bags.

I have usually retorted, in defence of men, that shoes are a complicated business. A handbag started out as a convenience but soon became an adornment. Shoes, on the other hand, are essentials. You can’t really leave the house barefoot. And because we wear shoes for most of the day, it is important that they fit perfectly. Wear shoes that are even slightly tight, and you will be unable to stand. Try running in shoes that are not meant for that purpose, and your feet will hurt for weeks.

So, I have argued, there is no parallel between bags and shoes. When a woman pays $5,000 (around Rs210,000) for a designer handbag, she is buying a status symbol. When a man splashes out on a $500 pair of shoes, he is buying a lifetime of comfort and investing in the future of his feet.

Well, yes and no.

Take the arguments that I offer on behalf of men and their shoes and turn them around to defend women and their Jimmy Choos. Suddenly, you begin to realize quite how hollow they are. No woman who buys Jimmy Choo or Prada is buying comfort or taking care of the arches of her feet. Often, she is actually buying discomfort, given how high the heels can be. Admittedly, there are shoemakers — Manolo Blahnik and Christian Louboutin, for instance — who do pay attention to the balance of a ballet pump and ensure that their shoes remain light on the feet. But rarely do women buy their shoes for comfort alone. Even with Blahnik and Louboutin fans, the primary motivation is fashion and, perhaps, snob value.

Sadly, the same is true of men. I am as willing as the next guy to admire a nice pair of Gucci loafers or to marvel at Prada’s ability to set fashion trends in footwear. But even I do not believe that somebody who shells out hundreds of dollars for Prada or Gucci is terribly concerned about comfort. We buy the shoes because they look nice.

And when we have to explain to ourselves how we can justify buying shoes that are three or four times more expensive than ordinary high-street brands, we swallow deeply and argue that, of course, for Prada, Gucci and the like, one has to pay a little bit more.

So, are we so very different from the women who crowd the Louis Vuitton boutiques looking for the latest limited edition bags of each season?

Regrettably: No, we’re not.

Are we being duped? Should we refuse to buy into the great fashion footwear scam?

Well, that’s an individual decision. And I don’t think that any absolute rules apply. Nobody is going to rot in hell for eternity because they bought a pair of Prada shoes on impulse. We’re all entitled to our luxuries.

Speaking for myself, however, I find that I spend less and less money on shoes these days. This is not because shoes are unimportant. Quite the opposite in fact. It’s because they are too important a matter to be left to fashion.

A few years ago, I worked out that when it came to shoes, only three things mattered: the quality (leather and workmanship), the fit and the look. I found that with designer shoes, the look was always right but neither the quality nor the fit were necessarily what I was looking for. Often, the trendy brands would sacrifice a comfortable fit in the pursuit of a fashionable look. The leather was never bad. But rarely was it particularly special. And as for the workmanship, shorn of the marketing hype, designer shoes were essentially industrial goods, manufactured in huge factories in vast numbers.

So, I decided to work backwards. If I was looking for quality workmanship, where should I go? The obvious answer was to avoid the global labels with their mass production. I found a small Thai label called Ragazze which made fashionable shoes of high quality and still managed to sell them at one-fourth the price of the high-fashion labels.

Then, couple of years ago, I thought more about it. If the Thais could do it, then surely Indians could do it as well. Why didn’t I find somebody who would make my shoes for me by hand?

Fortunately, I rediscovered Joy, a label I remembered from my Bombay days. I’ve known Munna Jhaveri, its owner, for decades. Somehow, it never occurred to me to get him to make my shoes. But once I made that jump, it seemed entirely logical to put my feet in his hands.

So now, Munna makes all my shoes and sandals. They are made to my exact size (my feet are broader than average), I choose the leather, Munna and I work out the styles together, and Joy’s workmen produce world-class shoes in a fortnight to three weeks.

The best part? I wish I could say it came from the pleasure of encouraging traditional craftsmanship or of wearing shoes that fit as only custom-made footwear can.

Actually, the best part is the price. At a time when all the foreign labels are setting up shop in Mumbai and selling very ordinary, industrially manufactured shoes at upwards of Rs20,000 a pair, Munna makes me bespoke shoes at a fourth of their price.

That is one of the pleasures of living in India. You get world-class quality, without the hype and handmade to your requirements — at a very Indian price.

Write to Vir at pursuits@livemint.com

Footwear Exhibition in Pakistan

Footwear Exhibition in Pakistan

Source:

Complete Article link

Footwear exhibition

Date 28 June 08

Commerce Reporter

LAHORE: All is set for the opening of the Pakistan’s biggest footwear exhibition here at a local hotel from June 28 to 29.

Federal Minister for Commerce Chaudhry Ahmad Mukhtar will inaugurate the 10 th Pakistan International Exhibition.

The fair is organised on annual basis by Pakistan Footwear Manufacturers Association (PFMA) and sponsored by Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP). PFMA Chairman Nasir Anwer stated that many local and international firms are exhibiting their products.

As many as 70 top international buyers from Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Canada, China, Germany, Greece, India, Italy, Kenya, Kuwait, Muscat, Malaysia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Spain, UAE, UK, and Uzbekistan have confirmed their participation during the 2 days of the exhibition.

FESI urges EU to reconsider decision on footwear imports from Vietnam

June 27, 2008 (Europe)

FESI – the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry is deeply concerned by the EU’s decision to abolish GSP preferences for Vietnamese footwear exports.

Complete Story

Source:

FESI – the Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry is deeply concerned by the EU’s decision to abolish GSP preferences for Vietnamese footwear exports.

“This decision is indefensible. It represents a kick in the teeth for both the Vietnamese footwear industry and the modern European footwear industry, which relies on Vietnam as a competitive source of supply.

We strongly urge EU Ministers to reconsider this move,” said FESI President Horst Widmann.

Removing preferential EU access will have a devastating effect on a key pillar of Vietnam’s economy at a time of severe economic turmoil.

It will only compound the damage caused by the 10% antidumping duties imposed on Vietnamese leather shoes two years ago, which have led to a 23% drop in exports of leather shoes to the EU.

Paradoxically, it is this artificial decline which led the EU to conclude that the Vietnamese economy is now less dependent on footwear exports, thereby justifying the abolition of GSP preferences.

“Vietnam is getting a double punishment,” Widmann said. “Removing preferences after imposing anti-dumping duties is irresponsible. Graduation in this case is not a success story, but a disaster.”

FESI is also disappointed about the distinct lack of transparency surrounding the factual basis for the EC’s decision to remove the preferences.

It is particularly concerned by the European Commission’s failure to disclose how it arrived at the import figures supporting its proposal.

Vietnam, the second most important EU source for footwear following China, is one of the poorest countries in the world, and footwear exports continue to represent one of its key revenue earners.

The Federation of the European Sporting Goods Industry

Not so happy feet

Source: Hindustantimes.com

Article in Hindustan times conveys why Foot need to be taken care of during Summers.

Complete story

Neha Sharma, Hindustan Times

Mumbai, June 28, 2008

Enough of patting sunscreen on your face. Believe it or not, your feet need it more. If you are one of those who frequently wear flip flops or open sandals, then you are at the risk of developing skin cancer. Dermatologists say that this part of the body is most susceptible because it is often ignored.

Dr Shehla Agarwal, consulting dermatologist, says that fear of tanning compels many to apply sun-block creams or lotions on their face and arms.

The feet remain unattended to. If they apply sunscreen to their feet, they immediately slip into sandals and the cream is wiped out.

“In winters, our feet are kept safe inside shoes. Then they are suddenly exposed to extreme sunlight in sum mer. Fair skin is more vulnerable to cancer,” says Agarwal.

Acral melanoma (cancer of feet and hand) though not very common, affects Indian skin too, she warns. It emerges like a bruise and is often ignored.

The bruise does not fade, it appears and disappears. Then the toe nail lifts up or separates from the skin or, there is a black streak on the nail.

That’s the danger sign. As far as possible, try to wear socks with footwear, advises Dr Anup Dhir, senior cosmetic surgeon, Apollo Hospital. “In the west, they have introduced UV radiation-free clothing,” he informs. “If possible, we can also adopt such clothes.”

© Copyright 2007 Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/Print.aspx?Id=b1302a9a-d243-4c60-9189-b551d706e54c

Footwear chain ties up with Europe brand

In Published: Saturday, 28 June, 2008

SHOE Mart, a leading chain of footwear stores from the Landmark Gulf Group, has announced a joint venture with Kurt Geiger, Europe’s largest luxury shoe specialist.

read complete story

Published: Saturday, 28 June, 2008, 01:00 AM Doha Time

SHOE Mart, a leading chain of footwear stores from the Landmark Gulf Group, has announced a joint venture with Kurt Geiger, Europe’s largest luxury shoe specialist.
The deal is expected to open 30 Kurt Geiger stores across the Gulf region within the next five years, with the first store in Qatar already open in Landmark Mall.
Shoe Mart’s alliance with Kurt Geiger will add a new dimension to its current portfolio by bringing the latest designer shoes to the region. This is the first time Kurt Geiger has ventured into franchising.
The Kurt Geiger stores will offer a range of own label collections for men and women reflecting the design and identity of Kurt Geiger’s UK freestanding stores.
“From our perspective, Kurt Geiger’s entry in the Middle East represents a significant shift in the region’s market dynamics as customers of luxury shoes now have the option of choosing one of their favourites,” Shoe Mart CEO Manu Jeswani said.
Kurt Geiger’s director of change, Andrew Lee, stated that the company sees the Gulf Region as a natural progression in the international growth of its business.

Payless Shoesource Parent Settles Trademark Lawsuit

Source: 

Published: June 28, 2008

Collective Brands, which operates the Payless ShoeSource and Stride-Rite shoe store chains, has agreed to pay a footwear rival, K-Swiss, $30 million to settle litigation claiming trademark infringement.

clix for Complete Story

Collective Brands agrees to settlement

K-Swiss to receive $30 million over trademark claims

Printed in The Capital-Journal By Michael Hooper

Published Saturday, June 28, 2008

Collective Brands, Inc., owner of Payless ShoeSource and Stride Rite, has agreed to pay $30 million to K-Swiss to resolve claims K-Swiss had against Payless regarding trademark issues, Collective Brands announced Friday.

Under the parties’ settlement agreement neither company admits liability to the other, however, Payless has agreed to pay K-Swiss $30 million on account of K-Swiss’ claims for compensatory damages.

Collective Brands anticipates that some portion of the $30 million settlement payment will be covered by insurance, but the precise amount isn’t determinable at this time.

K-Swiss has given Payless and its affiliates a full release of all known or unknown claims with respect to any shoe advertised, marketed, or sold by Payless or its affiliates up to June 24, including claims that were or could have been brought in the pending action. As a result of this settlement, Collective Brands will record a charge in the quarter ending Aug. 2 in the amount of $30 million not including consideration of any related insurance recovery or additional legal and other expenses.

Under the settlement agreement, Payless has agreed to refrain from making, advertising, promoting or selling footwear confusingly similar to that sold by K-Swiss, including footwear that bears K-Swiss’ trademark or trade dress. K-Swiss, a shoe retailer based in Westlake Village, Calif., uses a five-stripe logo on its athletic footwear. The company’s Web site says it has been making leather tennis shoes since 1966.

Under the settlement agreement, Payless will have until Dec. 31 to sell any existing inventory of shoes whose sale would be precluded under the terms of the settlement agreement.

The announcement follows a May 5 jury verdict of $304 million against Payless for trademark infringement of Adidas’ three-stripe logo. Collective Brands is fighting the judgment, but earlier this month set aside $30 million for the lawsuit.

Michael Hooper can be reached at michael.hooper@cjonline.com

Sneaker Companies Target Toddler Market

Source: the post chroncile

An article in the Post Chronicle claims Sneaker companies targeting toddler market

Published: Jun 18, 2008

Athletic shoe companies are targeting very young pre-athletes as a ready supply of U.S. customers with fast-growing feet, industry analysts said.

New Balance Athletic Shoe Inc. is gearing up for a marketing blitz aimed at infants and toddlers expected to yield revenues of $10 million by 2010, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

The company has television celebrities Elmo, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch to help push its new Sesame Street collection, which debuts next month, the newspaper said.

Reebok International has already turned to the Incredible Hulk and Iron Man to boost sales to youngsters, the Globe reported.

Shoe companies are targeting the very young to help establish customer loyalty and make up for flagging sales in sneakers for teens, a cornerstone of the market.

Sales for the under three-year old crowd have risen 34 percent to $1.35 billion in 2007, research firm NPD Group said. Some, however, object to marketing that targets preschoolers.

Pulling young children into the ‘must have’ shoe market is one more way to turn tykes into hyper-consumers, creating an entirely new generation of overspenders, said Lisa Wise, executive director of the Center for a New American Dream. (c) UPI

Nike 6.0 Launches Mashup Campaign

News Brief

Source: MediaPost’s Marketing Daily

Wednesday, Jun 25, 2008 5:00 AM ET

Nike 6.0, the action sports division of Nike, Inc. is the latest advertiser to set up a branded community on Loop’d Network. Members of the Nike 6.0 community can create profiles, share photos of themselves in the midst of skating, biking or surfing, and compete for commercial sponsorships. They can also interact with all of the other communities within San Diego, Calif.-based Loop’d Network, including the Monster Army and the PacSun Team.

As part of the launch, Nike 6.0 has rolled out a mash-up campaign, allowing Loop’d members to mix and match their favorite videos, sports clips, photos and Nike-supplied content. The mash-ups, powered by Mixercast, can be ported to member profiles on other social networks like MySpace and Facebook.

Link click

Hot footwear trend this season is cutout sandals

Source: Newsweek.com

Article : “Holes in the sides of her shoes” in Newsweek (7-14 July 08) claims that cutout sandals are the Fashion for the season

Read Complete story

Fashion: Holes In The Sides Of Her Shoes

By Tiffanie Wen | NEWSWEEK

July 7-14, 2008 issue

From the catwalk to the red carpet, the hot footwear trend this season is cutout sandals. Evolved from their trendy ankle-boot ancestors, they offer a sexy spin on booties for warm weather. Oscar de la Renta has snipped straight to the point with the befittingly named Cut-Out Bootie, which maintains the classic ankle-boot shape but exposes a triangle of skin just behind the toes (€489; neimanmarcus .com). Jimmy Choo has created the rebellious Anise Biker Leather Sandal, embellished with bold gems that will be sure to sparkle the next time you take your Ducati motorcycle out for a spin (€866; www.jimmychoo.com). For a softer look, the Manolo Blahnik Hande sandals come in black, gray or turquoise leather and feature triple straps and button closures (€632), while the whimsical red Bu sandals, with a provocative black-and-white striped heel, might have been Dorothy’s shoe of choice (€626; manolo blahnik.com). But stealing the spotlight is the metallic Christian Dior Extreme Cutout Sandal, which comes in either silver or gold-tone python finish. With stud detailing and a nearly 12cm-tall heel, this chic sandal shows just the right ratio of python to human skin, and holes that definitely don’t need filling (€531; dior.com).