tozafoot

Designing / making my own shoes & boots. Let feet move naturally: toe room + flat, flexible soles. Bare feet are best. Also on Mastodon @[email protected]

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

@PrincetonPBAC As anyone trying to cross Washington or Alexander at the canal can attest… most drivers take no notice of the flashing yellow lights (which often don’t work). We need pedestrian-responsive lights with a driver red phase at all crossings that currently have flashing yellow.

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

FYI, I’m migrating to Mastodon.

Find / follow / chat with me there at https://t.co/5Fy2vDXCKO

I will be keeping this bird site account open for now but will not be posting much here any more.

[Feelgrounds Barefoot Shoes @feelgrounds]

“Why the shoe pinches, published 1868. This incredible book was published to help educate the public over 150 years ago. We have highlighted some of the pages surrounding this “famous” illustration which we have attempted to bring back to life.” - @myfootfunction #feelgrounds

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

@ptonhealthdept Kudos to the town for organizing these vaccine clinics. Efficient, pleasant, staff and very convenient, walkable location. Made it easy and as low-stress as it could be. (Am now boosted as a walk-in!)

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

After much prototyping, I designed and made new sandals. Leather underfoot for comfort, Vibram sole for durability, polypropylene straps and side release buckles for adjustable fit. Very pleased with how sturdy and comfortable they are. Look at all that lovely toe room!

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

@feelgrounds Compliments. Not complements.

(Memory aid: “i” to ingratiate, “e” to extend).

[VIVOBAREFOOT @VIVOBAREFOOT]

What healthy feet look like!

Strong healthy feet are wide with toes that splay outwards. This is their natural, stable shape which can be lost if squeezed into tight, restrictive shoes for a long time, eventually taking on the pointed shape of shoes.

#Vivobarefoot #Barefoot

[Correct Toes @CorrectToes]

Here's an image from Dr. William Rossi's article Why Shoes Make "Normal" Gait Impossible, depicting how footwear with an elevated heel can negatively influence posture and movement.

#CorrectToes #FootHealth

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

This lady is doing the sensible thing: kicking off the shoe that will deform her foot, with its tapering toe and raised heel. Like a corset for the foot.

#shoesinart

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

@YIMBY_Princeton @createstreets I don’t think planning boards should dictate aesthetics.

But the fact that supposedly high-caliber architects are *still* churning out boring look-alike boxes in response to RFPs (when the clients can presumably afford beautiful), is just really sad.

https://t.co/QPnj6e2LFK

[Eddy 🇳🇱 @Bleddy81]

Asked #dalle2 AI to give me beautiful and ugly buildings.

[Natural Footgear @NaturalFootgear]

Your choice of footwear affects everything from your joint health to your postural alignment to your walking and running gait. This article highlights the most important features to look for when shopping for shoes: https://t.co/CxDTwRwrdg.

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

Paintings like this (from the 16th century) show that people used to wear shoes that were much less damaging to feet than most of what’s available today. Pointy toe shapes, raised heels and stiff soles seriously damage feet, as do toe spring and cushioning worn for long periods.

[Pieter Bruegel @artistbruegel]

Landscape with the Fall of Icarus, 1560 #pieterbruegel #bruegel https://t.co/Fu2Jz69mOw

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

That “proper” shoes should have tapering toes, raised heels, and stiff soles. Not to mention cushioning and toe spring. All features that weaken and eventually deform feet.

Feet are asymmetric and widest at the toes 👣, with flat, highly flexible soles. Footwear should be too.

[UberFacts @UberFacts]

What scam has become so normalized that people don't even notice it? 💭

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

This award-winning boot is better: it has a much roomier toe than most contemporary footwear, and doesn’t have much of a raised heel. But it still could do better. The sole is thick (reducing flexibility), with toe-spring (holding toe ends up for long periods shortens tendons).

[The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers @Cordwainers]

2/4 #cordwainersawards #cordwainers750 @LCFLondon #Sustainability

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

This is an award-winning… what?

Does it allow the foot to move naturally?

Or does it pinch toes out of alignment, raise heels to put unnatural stresses on forefoot joints, and have a stiff sole that stops the foot flexing properly?

Footwear design should not deform feet!

[The Worshipful Company of Cordwainers @Cordwainers]

Huge congratulations to the talented Sam Lilley from @dmuleicester Winner of the Cordwainers Footwear Awards 2022 #cordwainersawards #footwear #footweardesign. https://t.co/QEs3606iBr

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

More wide-toed shoes depicted in 16th century art ⬇️

Humans are born with toes that splay as wide as, or wider than, the ball of the foot. Our emoji reflect this 👣, as do the feet of people brought up shoeless.

Adult westerners today have feet deformed by decades of footwear.

[Pieter Bruegel @artistbruegel]

Peasant Wedding, 1568 #bruegel #pieterbruegel

[Correct Toes @CorrectToes]

Take a look at your favorite shoes. How many of these boxes do they check? 👟 ⠀
⠀
Conventional footwear is the root cause of many common foot conditions. Bunions, hammertoes, and blisters are just a few common examples of foot conditions caused by ill-fitting shoes. 👠👞

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

The 16th century beekeepers in this lovely sketch ⬇️ are shod in better shoes than the footwear that most people wear in the 21st century:
- no raised heels
- ample toe room
- soles are supple

All features that allow natural foot movement, and don’t stress joints 👣

[Pieter Bruegel @artistbruegel]

The Beekeepers and the Birdnester, 1568 #pieterbruegel #northernrenaissance https://t.co/Rez6BmFyc6

[tozafoot @tozafoot]

@YIMBY_Princeton Fits with the “let’s pretend signs =
infrastructure” approach to “bike boulevards”.

But FFS.
- Crosswalks at the level of the sidewalk.
- No right turn on red.
- Etc.
We know what works to slow drivers and improve life for people on feet/non-motorized wheels. Let’s just do it!