Akana Barefoot Range endorsed by podiatrist Andy Bryant
Akana is now offering custom-made barefoot shoes handmade to order for each customer after a shoe-fitting session
Eschewing fast fashion, their shoes are made to last, with durable and natural materials. Unlike mass-produced shoes which are glued together, Akana shoes' double-needle stitching ensures that they stay together for many long years.
Akana is now offering custom-made barefoot shoes handmade to order for each customer after a shoe-fitting session. They will help you to find your perfect sizing and are available in 3 different unisex designs with 55 colour and texture options to choose from.
Akana Barefoot shoes are handcrafted by skilful artisans with premium quality full-grain leather. Akana has adopted traditional shoe-making techniques to create shoes that come with a number of health benefits endorsed by podiatrist Andy Bryant. The shoes are designed in a way that helps strengthen foot muscles and maintain the foot’s natural function and shape.
Many lower limb injuries have a high correlation with weak foot muscles. Barefoot shoes can reduce the risk of injuries in the future by promoting healthy muscle development for better control and stability.
Akana Barefoot shoe qualities:
Wide Toe Box: Wide toe box will maintain your natural toe spread while wearing the shoes. This will result in stability and balance during movement and reduce the risk of bunions and hammertoes.
A Thin Sole: For better stability and balance while maintaining a natural posture. After a couple of wears, the buffalo leather sole starts to mould to the exact shape of the wearer’s foot, becoming flexible, and creating a unique footbed.
Zero Drop: Akana Barefoot shoes do not have any drop. The heel-to-toe of the shoe has the same height for healthy and natural body posture.
No arch support: Healthy feet do not need arch support, conversely, unnecessary arch support can weaken and harm the muscles that support our natural arch.
Disclaimer: For people with foot/health conditions, it is best to contact to a podiatrist and ask for professional health.
Akana can be found at Stall 229 in the SO:ME Space and are open Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 8am.
About Andy Bryant
Andy Bryant is a Melbourne Based podiatrist with 20 years of experience. He is passionate about the Barefoot Movement. He has a committed approach to the natural foot function, returning feet to the way they are designed to move in harmony with the rest of the body.
What makes Akana shoes different from other barefoot brands?
- Customizable: At the moment, Akana offers our barefoot shoes as custom made that come in three styles in 55 colour and texture options. Customers choose any style in any colour they wish. They are not limited to blacks and browns or greys. They can even choose the lace colour!
- Smart Casual/Dress/Work shoes: Currently, barefoot shoes mostly come in a trainer, running and hiking shoe format. Akana offers shoes with high-quality leather uppers and leather soles so they can be dressed up or down.
- They are not mass-produced: Akana handcrafts each pair, practising eco-friendly and sustainable production only in small batches as they are made-to-order. Akana does not create industrial waste, and does not consume unnecessary materials, water, or electricity.
- Natural & Premium Quality Materials and Eco-friendly Production: Akana only use natural and eco-friendly materials. They source leather from award-winning tanneries, audited by the Leather Working Group. The leather is traceable in the supply chain and crafted using sustainable and eco-friendly techniques.
- Family owned: Just like Akana, our atelier in Gaziantep/Turkey is a family-owned business for the last four generations. They use a proprietary double-needle stitching technique, that makes Akana shoes very unique and sturdy.
- Good for the feet: As no chemicals are involved in the process of leather crafting, Akana shoes are breathable even on the hottest day of summer. So, you can enjoy them with or without socks.
