The she wear shoe difference
Women are busy. But while we’re getting $h!t done, we’re usually not wearing the right shoes (hello foot, leg and back pain. *sad face). It’s just that good shoes and boots are like unicorns - supremely difficult to find. Enter she wear.
Basically we’re on a mission to reinvent *good* for women in footwear - meaning supportive, stylish and certified options crafted especially for female feet, that stand up to a full day of wear whether you're hard at work, or enjoying a day off. We’re setting this new benchmark, because current options ain’t all that. And we think you deserve better.
ACCORDING TO US
Your rights
Our women’s boots and shoes are created on what we believe are your fundamental stride rights.
Our range is designed around 4 key considerations which ensure you have the most comfortable shoes no matter if you're on duty or off!
STRIDE RIGHTS
1. Made specifically for women
Many shoes and boots worn by women are not really made for us at all. Sry, wot? Yep, correct reaction.
Basically, big (and small) brands in the safety boot, sports shoe and sneaker market often make their shoes based on a men’s foot mould - even shoes in their "women’s" range. The problem is, women’s feet are very different to men’s feet, and not just in size. Wearing shoes designed for men means we risk our safety, comfort and foot health - capital BOO.
That’s why she wear stepped in and created shoes specifically for women’s feet. Because we shouldn’t have to compromise our health and safety. Duh.
What OTHERS do
Put a men’s fit first.
Sports shoes, sneakers and work boots were historically worn by men, so were designed (by men) based on a male foot mould, or "last". When women increasingly started wearing these types of shoes, smaller “female” sizes were made, yet the designs remained based on a men’s foot mould, or even worse .. called "unisex" which btw doesn't exist - it's still mens! Marketing at its finest! This all stemmed from the idea that our lady feet were just smaller versions of men’s feet.
While science has since called BS on that, the industry has been slow to change, so we’re still often stuck wearing work shoes made for a man’s fit.
What WE do
Women designing only for women.
Yup, it’s totally unfair that women aren’t properly catered for in work boots and shoes. But instead of just channelling Karen energy and complaining, we got busy changing the game.
First we hunted down a female foot last, then set about meticulously crafting our shoes, layer-by-layer, on this last. The result is our considered collection of women's shoes, purpose built to support female foot contours - to cuddle our more slender ankles, cradle our narrower heels and cushion our higher arches.
STRIDE RIGHTS
2. Made with certified goodness
To say we’re obsessed with quality, safety and support is an understatement. That’s why we turn to independent, third party certification company, the BSI Group, to ensure our designs are 100% tip top. Our safety and work shoe ranges are all tested, certified and regularly audited by BSI to comply with AU standards. And like the proud over-achievers we are, we actually exceed the standard in most instances.
Another benefit which is sure to put a spring in your step - our certified work shoes may be tax deductible if your job requires specific occupational footwear. (Always double check with your accountant though - we’re shoe experts, not tax wizards.)
Even our lifestyle shoes, boots and slides are slip tested!
What OTHERS do
Rely on marketing malarkey (“Try our new Wizardarysolesoft® technology”) to appear more trustworthy .. or paid endorsements with health associations.
The shoe industry is pretty good at crafting up a solid sounding slogan. Brands often release stuff like TriTough Support Topper™ - it sounds a bit technical, and it’s trademarked, so it must be trustworthy, right? Wrong.
Fling open the STAFF ONLY door, and you’ll find a team of marketing geniuses concocting clever catchphrases to have us believing we’re making good choices. Very rarely are these claims certified or independently assessed for validity.
Meanwhile, endorsements by physio and podiatry associations are typically paid for and not an independent certification with proper testing - they're just paid "exclusive" endorsements.
What WE do
Offer independent certification at the highest level, because health and safety ain’t something to BS about.
We don’t rely on silly slogans coz we’ve got the certification to support our science-backed designs. The BSI Group certifies our safety range as compliant with Australian standards AS 2210.3:2019 and our work range is certified to the occupational footwear standard, AS 2210.5:2019.
Most of our safety ranges are also certified to US standards.
Similarly all of our shoes, even lifestyle ranges, are put through slip resistant testing.
STRIDE RIGHTS
3. Made for all day wear
What do you do when you can’t find a good women’s work shoe? Reach for a sports shoe or a good lookin’ sneaker instead.
But while their flexi softness is as tempting as a lunchtime donut, sports and fashion sneakers are designed for short term activity, not long hours on your feet. And like all good friends, we’re here to help you make healthier choices.
Put down the other brand sports wear, pick up the she wear (ok...and the donut). Future you will be kissing the ground you’ve walked on, all through those nasty 12hour shifts.
What OTHERS do
Use materials that leave your tootsies tired half-way through the day.
Lots of shoes that women use for work have midsoles (and inner soles, plus sometimes outsoles) made with low density, foamy stuff that's really light and "cushiony". While flexible and super pillowy at first feel, the airy cushioning actually flattens over time, meaning your ride quickly becomes less supportive (translation: aching feet, legs and back - UGH!).
Meanwhile, flexi doesn’t equal fabulous. Shoes that are made with really bendy materials actually force your feet to work harder to keep your shoes on. This means the arches and balls of your feet get pretty exhausted.
What WE do
We choose superior quality materials that are proven to keep you comfy and supported for a FULL day on your feet.
The hidden layers of all our shoes are crammed with science-based amazingness to support your feet (and whole body). Most of our midsoles are crafted with comfy, lightweight PU (polyurethane) or EVA. But when WE use EVA, we make sure we craft our shoes with a denser, higher degree compound.
Like a good bestie, our midsoles offers amazing support and won’t flake out on you when times get tough. It’s a resilient, higher density material which doesn’t compress or allow over-flex (translation: big wins for foot and full body health - YAY!). The goodness continues in our inner soles. Read more about the technology in our shoes (don’t worry - we’ve made it fun!).
STRIDE RIGHTS
4. Made for function & fashion
We’re very partial to an F-word. Functional, fit-for-purpose footwear (try saying that 3 times fast!). We’re fanatical about it, because from farmers to FIFOs, tradies to teachers, mums to miners, and hairdressers to health professionals, work shoes have to fulfil ALOT of different needs. That’s why choice is important - your shoes have to suit your use.
And while you need function, you want fashion. Girl, same! We get it, coz we’re women too. We’ll never ask you to choose between the two, because she wear designers are clever and can do both, equally well.
What OTHERS do
Put men's fit, or fashion, first.
Yep, for women, the shoe struggle is real.
If you want women’s safety boots, the range of true female-fit options are teeny-tiny. Most brands offer just one or two “ladies” style’s (and they’re usually based on a man’s fit - ugh! That’s putting our health and safety at risk).
Meanwhile, women’s work shoes might look schmick, but if you’re looking for a shoe to properly support a FULL day on your feet, EVERY day, for LOTS of days....ummm, is that a unicorn?
What WE do
We have effing good priorities - Functional, Fit-for-purpose, for Females and Fashionable.
Every design is super-charged with substance and style, so that you can find a good lookin’ shoe that also suits your industry or end use.
When it comes to fashion, we can match your personality or keep the uniform police onside with classic designs. Our range also transitions you from work to weekend and whatever in-between. Hashtagable choices that you can take from your shift to the street. You’re welcome!
