Fit for life

Fit for life
– a guide for parents
ecco.com
The ECCO® philosophy is simple:
While other shoe companies are obsessed with shoes, our
obsession is with the foot. How it works. How it responds. How
it absorbs. How all fifty-two bones and fifty-six joints are capable
of moving you. And how our shoes mould to the foot – not the
other way around. With children’s feet still growing and sensitive
to pressure and load, our last, use of soft leather and flexible and
light soles are crucial to support the correct development of a
child’s natural freedom of movement. A freedom that makes them
fit for being kids…active, curious, exploring and inventive.
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It all starts with the foot.
Children’s feet have to last their entire life.
That is why it is important to allow the bones and muscles in the foot to
develop free and unrestricted. It is easy to spot a jacket that’s too small
– but there is unlikely to be any lasting damage in that. With shoes
it’s different. The soft bones of the foot can to adopt the shape of
poor fitting or too small shoes – possibly leading to future foot related
problems.
What we know about children’s feet is all reflected in our
shoes.
And there are huge differences in the shape of an infant’s foot, a child’s
foot and a junior’s foot – how they grow, how they change. Differences
that need to be reflected in our shoe construction.
We take great pride in the design and construction of our shoes and
want to share this important knowledge with you. Once you have read
this leaflet we hope that you will recognize the importance of your
child’s foot development and appreciate the need for quality footwear
that allow feet to work, breathe and develop naturally.
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Feet are not just feet
There’s more to a child’s foot than size
A child’s foot is not simply a small version of an adult’s foot. During
a full 18 years of growth everything connected with the shape,
proportion and structure of the foot changes.
Children’s feet grow in stages. In the first 2 years growth is approx. 2
cm a year, equal to almost half a size every 2 months. From the age
of 2 or 3, that figure is approx. 1,5 cm or a half size every 3 months.
Luckily growth slows thereafter, settling down to 1 cm a year until the
age of 13 to 15.
It goes without saying that with a growth rate like this, children’s
shoe sizes should be checked several times every year. And this is
especially important for smaller children because the nerve endings
in their feet are not fully developed, and it is difficult for them to tell
whether their shoes are too tight or not.
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Infants, 0 to 2 years
The foot is very soft and flexible. The bones are not yet ‘connected’,
and the arches are not yet developed – there’s a large amount of fatty
tissue and underdeveloped muscle, which gives the foot a ‘flat-footed’
look. A wide forefoot is the characteristic shape at this age.
Children, 3 to 7 years
The foot continues to be soft and flexible. The arches are now beginning
to develop, along with the muscles. The shape of the foot begins to
narrow, but the forefoot is still wider in comparison to an adult foot.
Juniors, 8 to 12 years
Some of the flexibility has gone, but the foot is still very pressure
sensitive. The arches are almost fully developed giving the foot an
adult-like shape. However the forefoot is still comparatively wide.
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Shoes are not just shoes
ECCO® shoes reflect all the knowledge we have of the infant, child
and junior foot – how it functions, how it grows, how the foot changes
shape – and most of all how important proper development of the foot
is for a child’s further body development.
ECCO shoes incorporate all of these features to ensure healthy foot
development:
• We use light, soft and flexible materials to give maximum mobility
to the foot.
• Everything that is unnecessary is taken away – i.e. no archsupport! As the muscles in the arch develop better on their own.
• A low heel height distributes the body weight evenly over most of
the sole, whereas higher heels only load the front of the foot.
• The closure system is adjustable in order to surround the foot
perfectly and keep the heel in place.
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The right fit
According to the ECCO fit, a shoe should feel snug in the instep and
roomy in the forefoot. To demonstrate this, grab your hand in front of
the wrist, so your fingers feel tight/locked. Conversely hold around the
wrist and you’ll discover how free and easily the fingers can move,
which is precisely how the foot should feel.
The correct size
The rule of thumb is that there should be a total of 1,5 cm from the tip
of the toe to the end of the shoe. That extra space allows for 3 things:
• About 0,5 cm allows for ‘extension room’ when walking.
• About 0,8 cm allows the foot to grow.
• About 0,25 cm is taken up by the toe-box.
The necessary ‘footcheck’
Check the shoe fitting by measuring the length of the foot on the insole
allowing 1,5 cm extra space. More or less space and the shoe is either
two big or too small.
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Design is not just design
Shoes have two basic functions: to protect and to look good. To
ECCO® both functions are important and therefore equally prioritized
for two reasons: What use is an anatomically correct shoe if the child
won’t wear it? And how much is fashionable design worth if it might
harm the feet?
In the creation of shoes, ECCO has two sources of inspiration: nature
and children themselves.
Every pair of shoes is enriched with functions. Each function rep¬resents
an advantage to the child to do better and feel better in all seasons, in
all conditions, and in all kinds of situations. The shoes simply have to
match the physical activities that characterize a child’s lifestyle.
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Free to move!
Light and flexible
sole from heel to toe.
Adjustable
for maximum
individual fit.
A good grip and
ground contact means
safe walking.
Correctly shaped
forefoot with free
space for the toes.
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How does hot weather affect my child’s feet?
Children’s feet sweat more during hot weather, even up to a quarter
of a pint per day. It is essential to have shoes that breathe properly
so that problems like athlete’s foot can be avoided. The foot may also
swell a little in the heat, making a good fit even more important.
What’s the best way to look after the shoes?
Leather shoes should be cleaned with a moist sponge. Apply shoe cream.
Rub in well. Buff to a good finish and remove any excess shoe cream.
Shoes made of nubuck should be cleaned with a brush or dry sponge.
Hold the shoe uppers over steam, brush and allow to dry. Use a leather
all-protector spray.
Shoes with a 100% waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane need special
care. Use the same instructions as mentioned above. Please ensure that
the shoe care product selected is approved for use with GORE-TEX®
footwear, like many of our ECCO® shoe care products.
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Light
Choosing lightweight materials is of high priority in: lining, foam materials
and the outsole. Reducing weight means gaining comfort for the feet.
Hard-wearing
The ECCO® outsole is made of hardwearing PU or rubber, strong and
very durable, with flexibility and a natural grip. Heel and toecaps are
strengthened for durability.
Shock-absorber
The heel structure is based on ECCO’s Dynamic Energy Concept
– providing a shock-absorbing effect, which reduces the impact of
running and jumping on heels, knees and back.
Flexible
To help the foot develop as naturally as possible from heel to toe, ECCO
outsoles are made of soft and flexible materials such as Freon-free PU
and natural latex rubber. Extreme flexibility – matching the feet.
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Soft
Softness in every detail: the tanning of the leather, the ECCO
Comfort Fibre System™ inlay sole, the midsole, the advanced shockabsorbing construction – combined with a flexible outsole. Comfortably
soft from day one!
Thermal lining
Extreme conditions call for extreme solutions. ECCO’s thermal lining is
designed to keep the feet warm and dry.
Waterproof
ECCO is a world leader in manufacturing footwear guaranteed to
keep the feet dry in all weather conditions. ECCO exclusively uses a
GORE-TEX® membrane that allows the feet to breathe while keeping
them dry. Sweat and condensation are transported out through the
membrane, without moisture coming in.
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6 good reasons
for choosing ECCO® shoes
· Flexible as feet
· Soft as skin they surround
· Natural foot-shaped fit
· Adjustable for individual fit
· Light for freedom of movement
· Breathable for nice dry feet
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