The shoe you can walk a hundred miles in and maybe more

MANILA, Philippines - New York City, 27 years ago. A transport strike. Women walking to work in sneakers, office pumps tucked in their bags. One man had an idea. And a shoe company was established.

Maybe it wasn’t that simple. But the story is true, nonetheless. “When we first started, there was a New York city transit strike where all the buses and trains were out,” relates Jules Schneider, CEO and president for footwear brand Aerosoles. “Women were walking around in their nice, tailored business suits  and their sneakers! We went down that path: how do we create a product that’s both comfortable and fashionable, something that allows you to walk and walk and be comfortable all the time?”

Aerosoles’ original concept, being based in the New York area (the company is now actually based in New Jersey but has a strong presence in Manhattan), was to build a shoe that people could walk in for long periods of time, as well as  most importantly  long distances. “It’s for people who are always on their feet,” adds Schneider.

And so the brand was built around the idea of  and has always been associated with  comfort, practical footwear, padding and flexibility. Maybe that’s all you need to get sold, but it still helps to know that each Aerosoles shoe is constructed with a “waffle bottom,” a sole that as Schneider explains, “has a lot of functionality in terms of dispersing (pressure) when your foot hits the ground.” Essentially, all the pounding, force and stress are spread out onto the ground and not up to your foot.

Trend alert: Trends, such as animal prints and embellishment, combine with technology in Aerosoles’ new collection.

Each of these waffle soles is also flexible. You see those techniques where salespeople fold shoes over just to prove flexibility? With Aerosoles, it’s not just a spiel or a gimmick. Their soles are really built to flex, as much as they are built to last. Throughout the years, the brand has also been trying to infuse new advancements and technologies into their soles and finishes, the most recent being the Heel Rest design.

As Schneider explains, most shoes are built around a certain mold called a “last.” Aerosoles came up with a special kind of last that allows them to make high heels that “are built in such a way that pressure is brought down on the heels and not just all on the toes.” Which means that it won’t seem like you’re doing leg lifts when your walking in three-inchers. Or walking on tiptoes. Aerosoles understands that style and fashion are important, but you don’t necessarily have to suffer for them. Says Schneider, “We never lose our focus on allowing people to live their normal lives, whatever they are wearing.”

Which is probably why the brand has gained a following among celebrities, from the most stylish to the most sensible. Fans include both Sarah Jessica Parker and Hillary Clinton. “Sometimes, she even calls the store if she’s too busy and we send her some pairs to try,” says Aerosoles EVP Karen Sadick of the US Secretary of State’s shoe shopping habits. Jennifer Hudson, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Pamela Anderson all also have their own favorite Aerosoles pairs.

THigh hopes: The new Heel Rest innovation has allowed Aerosoles to create heeled shoes in such a way that pressure is brought down on the heels and not just all on the toes.

On local ground, it’s the embellished sandals  which nicely combine both chic and comfort  that are bestsellers. Aerosoles has more variations in their newest collection for summer, as well as designs that nod to the latest trends: animal print wedges, Grecian sandals, and even cute two-toned brogues. All of them are flexible, padded and built for comfortable walking, of course.

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Aerosoles is located at Glorietta, Eastwood Mall, Podium and is also available at Rustan’s Department Stores.