Among the economic signs that suggest recovery, there is a very curious one that literally indicates a ‘change of pace’. This is the HighHeel Index, created by British consumer expert and futurologist Trevor Davis. He believes there is a correlation between sales of high-heeled shoes and economic growth phases. Indeed, sales of this type of shoe, suitable for social occasions and, in any case, for social life, plummeted by 70% in 2020, coinciding with the pandemic. Today, however, they are on the upswing worldwide, marking the end of the emergency.
And auspicious times are expected for the Made in Italy startup GAIT-TECH®, which has patented an invisible, biomechanical, integrated device for walking on high heels without pain. As it says on the company’s website
‘The device consists of specific and differentiated support surfaces for each metatarsal head, i.e. the part of the foot on which most body weight is concentrated. The insole relieves pressure on the foot’s metatarsal bones to provide a healthier and more stable gait (‘GAIT’) when the foot is vertical with a plantar flexion.’
A solution that balances aesthetics and wellbeing
This solution stands out because it is a structural component of the shoe inserted during its production process without impacting the style. Moreover, studies show that 70% of women aged between 18 and 68 claim to wear high heels with acute and chronic foot, knee, and spinal pain.
There is nothing strange if one considers that footwear with a heel was originally created for riding. In particular, the heel was to prevent the foot from sliding forward in the stirrup when the rider had to straighten up in the saddle to fight or hunt!
A pool of experts
The idea of reconciling aesthetics and wellness comes from a group of high-level executives and experts. GAITTECH’s team is made up of entrepreneur Andrea Goldoni, CEO of GAITTECH; Stefano Caiumi, an expert therapist in orthopaedics; Marcello Benetti, a PhD lawyer; Simone Marchesini, an orthopaedic technician; Diego Dolcini, creative director and technical designer, and Alice Carli, general manager. The innovative startup was founded in 2019 and, in its first year of activity, was supported by a fundraising in which mainly entrepreneurs from Carpi participated.
Recently, the company also participated in CES in Las Vegas, the world’s largest trade fair dedicated to digital innovation.
Congratulations to those who find solutions, innovate and take Italian patents to the world!
Learn about other Italian companies that make innovation a priority.