Do huaraches stretch out over time. Huaraches Stretch Guide: Breaking In Leather Sandals Painlessly

Do huaraches stretch out over time. How can you break in new leather sandals comfortably. What are effective methods to stretch tight shoes. How long does it take for leather sandals to mold to your feet.

Understanding the Nature of Leather Huaraches

Huaraches, traditional Mexican sandals crafted from leather, are renowned for their durability and timeless style. However, like many leather shoes, they often require a breaking-in period to achieve optimal comfort. This process allows the leather to soften and mold to the unique shape of your feet.

The Composition of Leather Huaraches

Leather huaraches are typically made from full-grain or top-grain leather, which is known for its strength and ability to adapt over time. The natural properties of leather allow it to stretch and conform to the wearer’s foot, creating a custom fit that improves with wear.

Why Do Huaraches Need Breaking In?

New leather huaraches can feel stiff and uncomfortable initially due to the tight weave of leather fibers. Breaking them in involves gradually loosening these fibers, allowing the sandal to flex more easily and adapt to your foot’s contours.

Effective Methods for Breaking In Leather Huaraches

There are several proven techniques to expedite the breaking-in process of your new leather huaraches, minimizing discomfort and preventing blisters.

The Shoe Stretcher Method

Using a shoe stretcher is a gentle yet effective way to loosen tight areas of your huaraches. Here’s how to use this method:

1. Insert the shoe stretcher into the huarache, focusing on tight spots.
2. Gradually expand the stretcher to apply pressure.
3. Leave overnight or alternate days with wear.
4. Repeat as necessary until desired comfort is achieved.

This method is particularly useful for widening the toe box or expanding the overall width of the sandal.

The Heat Method

Applying controlled heat can make leather more pliable, allowing it to stretch more easily. Follow these steps:

1. Use a hairdryer to warm tight areas of the huarache for 20-30 seconds.
2. Immediately wear the sandals and walk around to shape the warm leather.
3. Allow the huaraches to cool completely before removing.

Exercise caution with this method, especially if your huaraches have metal embellishments, as these can become extremely hot.

The Spoon Technique

This manual method can be particularly effective for softening specific areas of the huarache:

1. Use the back of a spoon to vigorously rub tight or uncomfortable spots.
2. Focus on areas prone to rubbing, such as the heel and straps.
3. Continue for several minutes, applying firm pressure.

This technique mimics the natural wear process, helping to soften the leather more quickly.

Natural Wear and Stretch Over Time

While targeted breaking-in methods can accelerate the process, it’s important to understand that leather huaraches will naturally stretch and conform to your feet over time with regular wear.

The Timeline of Natural Stretching

The rate at which huaraches stretch can vary depending on factors such as leather quality, frequency of wear, and environmental conditions. On average, you can expect noticeable improvement in comfort within 1-2 weeks of regular wear.

Factors Affecting Natural Stretch

• Leather quality and thickness
• Frequency and duration of wear
• Environmental humidity and temperature
• Individual foot shape and gait

Maintaining Comfort and Fit

Once you’ve successfully broken in your huaraches, proper care can help maintain their comfort and extend their lifespan.

Leather Conditioning

Regular application of leather conditioner helps keep the leather supple and prevents cracking. Apply a small amount of conditioner every few months or as needed, especially in dry climates.

Proper Storage

Store your huaraches in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight when not in use. Using shoe trees or stuffing them with paper can help maintain their shape.

Addressing Common Discomfort Issues

Even with proper breaking-in, you may encounter specific areas of discomfort. Here are solutions for common problems:

Heel Blisters

If you’re experiencing heel blisters, try these remedies:

• Apply moleskin or blister pads to the affected area
• Use the spoon technique to soften the heel area
• Consider heel grips or inserts for added cushioning

Strap Rubbing

For strap-related discomfort:

• Use leather softener on the straps
• Apply athletic tape to your skin where rubbing occurs
• Adjust strap tightness throughout the day

Alternative Stretching Methods

In addition to the primary methods mentioned, there are other techniques you can try to stretch your huaraches:

The Freezer Method

This method uses the expansion of water as it freezes to gently stretch the leather:

1. Fill a sealable plastic bag with water
2. Place the bag inside the huarache, ensuring it’s in contact with tight areas
3. Freeze overnight
4. Remove and let thaw before wearing

This technique can be particularly effective for widening specific areas of the sandal.

Professional Stretching Services

If DIY methods aren’t yielding desired results, consider professional shoe stretching services. Cobblers and shoe repair shops often have specialized equipment to stretch leather shoes without damaging them.

Choosing the Right Huaraches for Your Feet

Preventing discomfort starts with selecting huaraches that are well-suited to your foot shape and size.

Sizing Considerations

When purchasing huaraches:

• Measure your feet at the end of the day when they’re slightly swollen
• Consider width as well as length
• Try on both sandals and walk around to assess fit
• Allow for a small amount of extra room, as feet can expand during wear

Customization Options

Some manufacturers offer customization services for huaraches, allowing you to tailor the fit to your specific foot shape. This can significantly reduce breaking-in time and discomfort.

The Environmental Impact of Leather Stretching

As we consider methods for breaking in leather huaraches, it’s important to be mindful of the environmental implications of our choices.

Sustainable Leather Care

Opt for eco-friendly leather conditioners and cleaning products to minimize environmental impact. Look for products made from natural ingredients and packaged in recyclable containers.

Longevity and Sustainability

Properly breaking in and caring for your huaraches can significantly extend their lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements and thereby decreasing overall environmental impact.

Cultural Significance of Huaraches

Understanding the cultural heritage of huaraches can deepen your appreciation for these traditional sandals.

Historical Context

Huaraches have been an integral part of Mexican culture for centuries, originally worn by indigenous peoples and later adopted more widely. The process of breaking them in and allowing them to mold to one’s feet is part of this rich tradition.

Modern Interpretations

Today, huaraches have gained popularity worldwide, with various designers offering contemporary interpretations. However, the essence of the handcrafted leather sandal remains, including the need for a personalized breaking-in process.

Breaking in leather huaraches is a process that requires patience and care, but the result is a comfortable, custom-fit sandal that can last for years. By understanding the nature of leather and employing effective stretching techniques, you can transform your new huaraches from potential sources of discomfort into cherished, well-fitted footwear. Remember that each pair of huaraches is unique, and the breaking-in process is part of creating a personalized shoe that’s perfectly molded to your feet.

How To Break In Your New Leather Sandals – Espiritu

The vibrant colors and perfect-intricate form of a new pair of leather sandals are unforgettable. However, this new sensation also comes with painful blisters, burns, and cuts. But don’t worry because these at-home remedies can turn your new huaraches from a temporary curse to a long-lasting blessing.  Breaking into your new pair of leather sandals does not have to be a painful process!

Buy a Shoe Stretcher

Although this method can take longer than others, buying a simple plastic or wooden shoe stretcher can drastically loosen and stretch your huaraches to help minimize your aching feet. Leave them overnight or rotate your shoes and wear them only every other day and stretch in-between wears. You can get your stretchers at Amazon available for under $20. You can also slightly damp a newspaper (not soak because wet newspaper will damage the sole of the shoe) and crumple it up inside shoes to help naturally stretch the leather.

Use Heat 

Leather is super malleable when subjected to high temperatures. Holding a hairdryer over the parts of your leather shoe that are tight and uncomfortable can help loosen leather and stretch it slightly. Once you are done, let the huarache cool before putting it back on your feet. Shoes with studs or metal detailing can get extremely hot, so make sure to be extra careful with these. 

The spoon technique

Using the back of a spoon and rigorously working it into the heel of the shoe resembles your heel. Performing this motion on any other parts of the shoe that are rubbing or cutting can also work. This will help soften the leather much faster so you can wear your new leather sandals without the worry of rashes or blisters.

These techniques will allow you to wear your huaraches sooner and not have to endure the consequences of a new pair of tight leather sandals. Blisters, burns, rashes, and cuts will be severely minimized if you loosen your shoes before you wear them. Brake in your sandals and enjoy your beautiful feet.

Published: Fri, Sep 04, 2020

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How to Stretch Out Shoes (Even Leather Shoes!)

If that cute pair of shoes is giving you blisters, give these methods a try!

Several years ago, I bought a pair of fun leopard print ankle boots online to wear to an upcoming work conference. It was a pretty bold choice for me at the time, but even though they were a bit outside of what I would normally wear, I was really looking forward to receiving my sassy new booties in the mail! When they arrived, however, I was disappointed to discover that they were just a little bit too snug on my feet. 🙁

At first I considered just sending them back, but I didn’t want to give up without a fight! I decided to find out if there was a way to stretch out my too-tight shoes so that they fit more comfortably. (If it all went wrong, I decided I would simply have to wear them anyway, and suffer in the name of fashion for a few hours.) 😉

I found a few different shoe-stretching methods online, and tried the first one I read about – the freezer method. It worked perfectly, and I was able to wear my fab leopard print booties in total comfort! In the years since that occasion, I’ve successfully used two other methods to stretch out shoes – the rubbing alcohol method and the hairdryer method. So today I thought I’d share all 3 of those methods with you, just in time to get your favorite shoes ready for all those holiday parties. 🙂

Related: How to Clean Suede Shoes & Boots

3 Ways To Stretch Out Too-Tight Shoes

Method #1 – Freezer

You’ll need:

• Two large ziplock bags
• Water

Unzip both bags and place one inside the other. (You could use just one bag, but I like to use a second one as an added safety measure since there is water involved. )

Place the bottom of the ziplock bags into the bottom of your shoe. Use your hand to press the bags into all the nooks and crannies inside your shoe as best you can.

Related: 23 Unexpected Things You Can Do With Your Hair Dryer

Once the bags are in place, carefully fill the interior ziplock bag with water until it fills up the inside of the shoe. Carefully seal the bag, then seal the outer bag too if you’re using one.

Carefully place the shoes into your freezer, and leave them there until the water inside the bag is frozen solid. As the water freezes it will expand (by approximately 9%!) and stretch out your shoes.

Remove the shoes from your freezer to allow the ice to thaw slightly. (You just need it to thaw enough that you can wiggle the bagged ice block out of the shoe!)

Once you get the ice out, your shoes should be nicely stretched and ready to wear!

Method #2 – Rubbing Alcohol

You’ll need:

• Rubbing alcohol
• Small spray bottle

Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol into an empty spray bottle. Spray the inside of your too-tight shoes until they are slightly damp. Put the shoes on, then walk around until the alcohol dries. Repeat as necessary if your shoes are still a bit snug.

A variation on this method is to take a pair of cotton socks, soak them in rubbing alcohol and squeeze out the excess. Then put on the socks and wear with the shoes until the alcohol dries. Repeat several times if necessary.

Method #3 – Hairdryer & Socks

You’ll need:

• Hairdryer
• A pair of thick socks

Put on a thick pair of socks (or as thick as will fit!) and slip on your shoes. Aim a hairdryer on the tight section for a few seconds, while wiggling your toes and and bending your feet inside the shoe. Keep the shoes on while they cool down. If you need more room, repeat the process again.

Huaraches Frequently Asked Questions | La Patrona

Where are the huaraches made?
All of our huaraches are proudly handmade by artisans in the city of Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco in México.

What are the huaraches made from?
The huaraches are made from genuine vegetable-tanned leather and natural rubber soles.

Do you carry half sizes?
No, half sizes are not available.

Do the huaraches fit true to size?
The fitting of most of our huaraches generally run slightly bigger. We recommend you size down if you are between sizes. We currently do not have half sizes available.

You can use our sizing guide to see which size is best for you.

Do the huaraches stretch?
Yes. All of our huaraches are handmade out of soft leather and they will mold to the shape of your feet over time.

We recommend wearing the huaraches inside your home on a carpet for up to 3 days to allow time to break them in.

What if the huaraches are too snug?
It is normal for the huaraches to feel snug at first, as long as your toes are not bending. If they are bending then a bigger size is likely needed.

How do I care for my huaraches?
Follow our huarache care guide to prolong the lifespan of your new huaraches.

What to do if my huaraches get wet?
The leather in the huaraches are soft and durable but are sensitive to moisture. It is best to avoid contact with water. You can use a waterproof spray to help protect them.

In the case that they do get wet, manually wipe off any water with a soft towel or clot and let your huaraches air dry at room temperature.

In addition, keep your huaraches away from direct sun or heat sources such as hair dryers or fireplaces as these can dry out your huaraches.

What is your return policy?
You can view our full return and exchange policy here.

I have a special situation?
We are happy to help! You can get in touch with us at [email protected].

How to Shrink Leather Sandals

adisa/iStock/GettyImages

Leather sandals are great in the summer. However, sometimes they become loose fitting over time and with wear and tear. We may own them for at least a year or two and then they begin slipping and sliding over our feet and heels. When this happens it is time for action and to find a way to shrink those leather sandals. This is possible to do on your own, without having it professionally done. When you’ve finished, you will have your old comfortable shoes that actually fit.

Soak your sandals in water for about two hours. Then set them in the sun until the sandals fit your feet. Check often by trying them on to see if they fit properly. Then wear them to form to your feet, even if they are still a bit wet. This will mold them to your feet.

Use heat to shrink your leather sandals. Some factories use heat to speed up the drying stage of leather. You could use your hair dryer or the sunlight without water. You can also set them over a furnace vent to dry them. The length of drying time is uncertain for it varies from the size of the shoe to the type of leather that was used to make the sandals.

Take your shoes to a shoe shop and let them cut and size your sandals to fit. Unless you are skilled in sewing leather, it’s best to let a shoe repair person fix them.

Dry clean your sandals. Believe it or not, dry cleaning isn’t all about “dry” cleaning. They use solvents and liquids chemicals to remove stains, and this works to tighten leather.

Put them in a dryer. The heat from the dryer will help to shrink your leather sandals just like it shrinks other materials. Leave them in for approximately twenty minutes, more or less. Adjust the time according to your shoe size and the type of leather.

Take your sandals to a trained leather worker. They are skilled in how to shrink leather, re-size them and tighten the leather without causing any damage to your sandals.

Tips

• Make sure that you do not over dry your shoes. This may cause cracking in the leather. You may want to use a leather treatment once they are dried to keep them looking smooth and polished.

  Avoid letting others wear your shoes. This can cause stretching and then you have loose ill fitting shoes.

How To Stretch Sandals Wide?

We may get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. 

With online shopping easier than ever,  you may readily find yourself in possession of a pair of sandals that simply refuse to fit. If they’re too small, how can you go about stretching your sandals out?

The good news is that there are many different methods that you can use to do just that.

• Wear socks with your sandals.
• Use heat to stretch them out.
• Soak your sandals in water. 
• Use a shoe stretcher.
• Try using rubbing alcohol. 

Whether you want to invest in a shoe stretcher or experiment with at-home solutions, you’ll be able to ensure that your sandals fit comfortably in no time at all. That said, you’ll still have to choose which method of widening will best suit your needs. Take a gander at some of the different techniques you can use.

How To Stretch Sandals Wide

Whether you’re looking for a low-commitment solution or one that delves into high school chemistry, you’ll easily be able to make a fashion statement sans uncomfortable blisters.

Wear Socks With Sandals

Let’s start with the simplest widening method: wearing socks with your sandals.

Some people may be quick to tell you that wearing socks with sandals is a fashion faux pas. This isn’t entirely untrue. However, if you’re looking to break in a new pair of sandals in the comfort of your home, there’s no harm in wearing socks with sandals. In fact, doing so will make it easier to later mold your sandals to your feet.

Socks, after all, widen your feet. They also protect your feet from the friction leather or other types of sandals may generate against bare skin. By taking walks around the house while wearing socks and sandals, you’re widening your shoe without putting the health of your feet at risk.

Use Heat

Wearing socks with sandals won’t widen your sandals all that quickly. If you’re looking for a faster solution, you’ll need to expose your sandals to heat.

First, try your sandals on. Make note of wear the sandal is the tightest. Then, only after removing the sandal, use a hair dryer or space heater to start warming that particular spot. Note that you don’t want to start the material on fire! Rather, you want to warm it to the point where it’s flexible. Repeat this process once a day for three days, and you’ll find that your sandal fits all the more comfortably as a result.

Soak Your Sandals

You can also widen your sandals by exposing them to water. Before you do, though, make note of the material your sandals are made of. Exposure to water works best with leather sandals. When you leave leather sandals to sit in a bucket of cool water, that water will work its way into the leather’s pores. Upon the sandal’s removal from their watery confinement, you’ll find that the water has made them significantly more flexible.

If you’re interested in investing in a pair of sturdy, leather sandals, Amazon has several such shoes available, including ones that are readily adjustable.

Note, of course, that the aforementioned tactic won’t have the same effectiveness with plastic sandals. If you’re looking to widen sandals made out of these materials, you’ll need to get a little more creative. Fill a sturdy plastic bag with water, then place your tight sandals inside. Then, place the bag of water into the freezer.

Because the ice will place a significant amount of pressure onto your sandals, you’ll find that they loosen fairly quickly. That’s what makes it ideal for sandals that aren’t readily adjustable, like some of the ones you can find on Amazon.

Use A Shoe Stretcher

If you’re not keen on putting your sandals in the freezer, don’t fret. You can just as easily invest in a shoe stretcher. If you choose to purchase a shoe stretcher off of Amazon, do note that the stretching method does take a fair amount of time.

You’ll need to place the stretcher at the part of your sandal that is the tightest on your foot. From there, you’ll need to keep the stretcher in place for between 12 and 24 hours. Keep an eye on your sandal, though, as overexposure to the pressure may damage your sandal.

Try Rubbing Alcohol

If you’re interested in experimenting with chemistry, you can also use rubbing alcohol to loosen up your sandals. Place a small amount of rubbing alcohol into a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can dampen a cloth with rubbing alcohol. Once you have your materials at the ready, you can either spray or rub your sandals down. Note that, again, leather sandals or sandals made out of fabrics will respond more readily to this stretching method than plastic sandals.

Once you’ve dampened the whole of your sandal with alcohol, it’s time to take a walk. Walk until the sandals have dried completely. Once they have, you’ll find that they’re significantly more comfortable to wear.

How Else Can You Make Sandals More Comfortable?

The good news is that you don’t always have to DIY modify your sandals to make them comfortable to wear. Keep some of the following in mind when adjusting your sandals so you can avoid losing time to blisters:

Choose Your Sandal Type Wisely

Different types of sandals suit different environments. You don’t want to wear a fashion sandal or a huarache if you’re going on a hike, for example. Make sure you do your research ahead of time so you don’t accidentally leave the store with a sandal you can’t comfortably wear.

Prevention is the Best Cure

You should also actively try on and walk around in the pair of sandals you’re thinking of taking home with you. Try to buy shoes that are a little on the big side, as your feet expand over the course of the day.

Don’t Wear New Sandals For Too Long

The last thing you want to do is wear a pair of brand new shoes for an entire day. While doing so will definitely break your sandal in, it’ll also leave you vulnerable to blisters and discomfort.

Take Short Walks in Your New Sandals

Instead of wearing new sandals in the long-term, wear your new shoes on multiple short walks a day. This way you won’t overexpose your bare skin to unnecessary friction, but you’ll also be able to better shape your sandals to your feet.

Use Heel Grips

Finally, if your sandals are slipping or too big, consider investing in heel grips. This grips provide your heel with a cushion that keeps friction at bay while also ensuring that you can walk down the street without losing a shoe. You’ll also be able to find heel grips in a multitude of different colors, as you can see courtesy of this pack of grips from Amazon.

Heel grips are also made from a variety of different materials. Depending on the friction or looseness you’re experiencing when wearing your sandals, you can opt for a suede, sponge, or rubber grip, among a litany of others.

This grip, for example, uses super-elastic microfibers to better mold your sandal to your foot. You can find other grips like it on Amazon.

Don’t send the sandals you bought online back if they don’t fit. Instead, try experimenting with different methods of shoe widening at home. If you do, you’ll find that you save time and stress without having to sacrifice your sense of style.

How to Stretch Shoes That Are Too Tight (Quick and Effective)

Don’t you hate it when you get the perfect pair of shoes only to discover that they are too tight on your feet? Sure, they did seem to fit when you tried them on at the department store, but after wearing them for a few hours, you realize that they are actually uncomfortably tight. This does happen. If you can’t return the shoes—or don’t want to—there are ways you can stretch them out to fit.

Here are some quick ways on how to stretch shoes:

Wear your shoes around the house

In order to be able to wear those shoes for long periods such as all day at work or all evening at a social gathering, you’re going to have to make them more comfortable. Wearing the shoes at home for short periods will help loosen the material and stretch out the shoes.

To speed up the process, wear a thick pair of socks—or several pairs—before you stuff the shoes on your feet. When the shoes hurt your feet, just take them off.

Freeze your shoes

Water expands as it freezes, freezing your shoes also expands them.

All you have to do is fill a sandwich bag for each foot with water about 1/4th full. Insert the bags up into your shoes, stick them in the freezer and leave them there until the water freezes. Once it does, allow it to thaw, take out the bags and try on your shoes. If one round of freezing doesn’t do the trick, try a second time. This method can be a little tricky, as you will need to make sure the water doesn’t leak when put inside the shoe.

For shoes (such as canvas) that can get wet, however, freezing the whole shoe can work as well. Get the whole shoe wet, add the water inside, and freeze it all. When everything thaws out, hopefully you will have a shoe that fits.

Here’s a humorous video that shows you what can happen if you don’t do it carefully:

Heat your shoes

Besides freezing shoes, heating shoes that are too tight is another option.

To do this, put on some thick socks and then your shoes. Get out the hairdryer, put it on high heat, and heat the shoe in the areas where it is tight. As you do this, flex your feet, bending your toes back and forth to move the shoe material as much as you can. This method doesn’t sound very comfortable but it works.

Watch this video for a detailed step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Both the freezing and heating method are known to stretch shoe sizes from a half to a whole size. Leather works the best since once stretched, it is less likely to go back to its original size.

Use simple shoe stretching tools

An alternative to stretching out the shoes with your own feet is to insert other items into your tight pair of shoes. Try over-stuffing socks into the shoes or crumpled up newspaper.

A number of shoe-stretching tools are out there specifically for the purpose of stretching out shoes. Shoe stretchers can adjust the length as well as width of a shoe. Knobs can be turned to adjust the stretcher. Just be careful not to get the shoe too loose. Shoe stretchers can work fine but will cost you maybe $20 or so.

Now that you are armed with several ways to stretch out your shoes, go through your closet and pull out all the ones that need to be stretched. Never again will there be such a thing as shoes that are too tight.

Featured photo credit: finda via finda.photo

Nike Fit is Nike’s new tech to ensure correct sneaker size — Quartz

As the world’s largest sneaker company, Nike appreciates how complicated it can be to know your correct shoe size.

“Every year we’re getting more than half a million complaints about size and fit from our consumers,” says Michael Martin, the company’s vice president of direct product, growth, and innovation. In Nike stores, its sales associates—”athletes” in company parlance—usually have to pull at least two pairs of shoes for every person who tries on a style. Size and fit issues, Martin adds, are the top reason people return shoes purchased online, which makes customers unhappy and costs Nike time and money, particularly as its direct-to-consumer sales keep growing.

To solve this problem, Nike is introducing a new technology called Nike Fit, which aims to provide customers with the right fit, the first and every time. Nike Fit uses machine-learning algorithms to analyze a photo you snap of your foot, and then determines the correct size in any style of shoe Nike offers.

Nike

The scan.

It sounds straightforward, but to make Nike Fit possible required more than a year of development, including testing and algorithmic training that Nike quietly conducted using thousands of shoppers coming through three of its US stores, as well as thousands of its own employees. The technology relies on the work of an Israeli computer-vision startup that Nike acquired last year. Nike will begin rolling Nike Fit out on its app and to select US stores in July, with a further expansion to stores in Europe planned for August.

There does seem to be some need for such a solution: A surprisingly large share of people wear shoes that don’t fit. Last year, researchers at Melbourne’s La Trobe University conducted an extensive search and review of published findings on incorrectly fitted footwear and the problems it causes. Across the studies they examined, they found that between 63% and 72% of participants wore shoes that didn’t adequately accommodate the length or width of their feet. Specific groups, notably children with Down syndrome, older people, and people with diabetes, were especially likely to have shoes that were too narrow.

It’s not a benign issue. “There was also evidence that incorrect footwear fitting was associated with foot pain and foot disorders such as lesser toe deformity, corns and calluses,” the researchers wrote. These problems aren’t welcome to anyone, but perhaps even less so to athletes whose footwear can affect their performance.

Not exactly known for humility, Nike isn’t being coy about how important it thinks Nike Fit will be. “I say this with no hesitation,” Martin prefaces. “This is the most significant advance in footwear fit ever.”

How Nike Fit works

Nike Fit is an attempt to bring sizing into this century. The current sizing standard is the Brannock device: that metal plate with the sliding notches that an associate at the local shoe store may have used to measure your foot as a child. Its inventor, Charles Brannock, built a prototype in 1926, and despite all the changes that have taken place since, the Brannock device is still how most people figure out their shoe size—if they even bother.

Parents often measure their kids’ feet, but as adults, people tend to assume that they know their size. Martin says one serious runner who got measured during Nike’s stealth testing in stores insisted he was a size 10, only to learn after measurement with Nike Fit that he should be wearing a nine.

Nike Fit will be available to shoppers in two ways. In Nike stores, customers remove their shoes and stand on a mat, with their heels all the way to the back. One of Nike’s store associates snaps a picture of their feet. That’s it.

To try it at home requires a bit more work. The app uses augmented reality, explained Shannon Slocum, director of product for direct product, growth, and innovation at Nike, at an April demo of the technology in New York. That means the first thing it needs to do is understand the room you’re in. The app asks you to move your phone camera around to orient itself; when it’s ready, it has you drag a blue line to the spot on your screen where the wall meets the floor so that it can differentiate between the two. Your feet also need to contrast with the floor, so no white socks on a white rug for instance. You stand against a wall with your heels pressed up to it, and hold your phone over your feet, aligning two circles that pop up on your screen to ensure your phone is parallel to the ground. Snap the picture and you’re done.

Nike

The process.

The app takes 13 points of measurement, and looks at the shape of each foot individually. With that information, it can assess how each foot would fit in any Nike shoe. That’s because to make its shoes, Nike has to create lasts for all of them. A last is a three-dimensional mold used in footwear production that gives every shoe its shape. Nike consequently knows the exact interior volume for each of its shoes, which don’t all fit the same.

Size isn’t all that Nike Fit considers. “Fit is a factor of a bunch of different things,” Martin explains. There’s the material the shoe is made of: A leather shoe will fit differently than a shoe with a knit upper, not just due to leather having different stretch characteristics, but also because of the stitching. There’s the purpose of the shoe: People generally want a little extra room in casual lifestyle shoes, but someone buying soccer cleats needs a snug fit. Martin says the lacing of a shoe is itself a big factor in fit.

Not least of all, personal preference matters. Nike recommends a size, but some shoppers just like their shoes to fit a little bigger or smaller. If you order a half size smaller than Nike suggests, it remembers that preference.

Over time, the app will learn. Nike can look at the fit preferences of other users with similar behavior to yours and use that information to guide its suggestions. As more and more people use the app, it should only get better at recommending the best size.

A better fit is better business

The benefits to shoppers who want to know what size they need in a particular Nike shoe are evident. Nike Fit can minimize the uncertainty people often feel when ordering online, or even when asking for a pair to try on in a store. Sizing varies across brands and styles. I wear a 10.5 in most Nike shoes, but have had to exchange a Nike order for an 11 because that particular shoe fit differently. (Incidentally, when I tried out Nike Fit, it correctly pegged my size as 10. 5 in the style of shoe we selected.) Nike also foresees more accurate sizing helping athletes perform better.

Then there are the benefits to Nike itself. “It can cost double…for a product to be returned into the supply chain as it does to deliver it,” Iain Prince, supply chain director for auditing, tax, and advisory firm KPMG in the UK said in a 2017 report (pdf). The expense isn’t only in the shipping costs—often to and from the buyer—but also in processing the merchandise. Multiplied over millions of pairs of shoes, those costs can quickly add up, and have a real impact on profits. Nike Fit could help reduce the rate of returns, and perhaps make people more confident ordering Nikes online.

The company also intends to use the data it collects to make smarter inventory decisions at its retail stores. Right now, Nike doesn’t have great visibility into the sizes each store should be holding for the local population, in part because so many customers don’t know what size they should be wearing. “Being able to reconcile that on a global scale is actually a meaningful benefit for the business as a whole,” Martin says.

And then there’s Nike’s plan to use Nike Fit to inform the design of its shoes. “We’re already taking the early data from Nike Fit in testing mode, and using that to take a look at all of the lasts that we have and determine which ones are most representative of foot morphology at scale,” Martin says. In theory, this will help Nike make shoes that fit better on average.

Nike

Nike’s Shanghai flagship.

Fit has been a bit of a growing obsession for Nike. In January it debuted the $350 Adapt BB, a self-tightening shoe that the company spent years engineering. The whole advantage, according to Nike, is a better fit than any previous shoe, particularly for athletes, and an unprecedented level of control over that fit. Martin notes that Nike believes the closest any company will get to offering a perfect fit in a non-custom shoe will come from a combination of Nike Fit and the Adapt platform. It’s a big ambition.

For now, the company hasn’t announced any plans to bring Nike Fit to its major retail partners, such as Foot Locker. Nike has been working to increase the sales it does direct to consumers, and Nike Fit could help that goal if shoppers think the best sizing advice they can get will come from Nike itself.

On its own, Nike Fit won’t solve every sizing issue. Sometimes our shoes, even in the correct size, just don’t fit our feet the way we’d like them to. But the grand vision is to make it so shoppers don’t even have to think of sizing when they order—just go to a Nike store or online channel, pick the style they want, and check out. “Our ultimate goal is you don’t have a number, you don’t have a gender on that shoe box,” Martin says. “You have your name.”

90,000 ¡This is all Mexico !: July 2014

Carved paper (isp.
Papel picado) is a type of art and craft
products, traditional and for making decorations for any holidays and very popular
especially in the central regions of Mexico. Can’t imagine celebrating the day
Mexican independence or another very popular holiday, religious
holidays without these decorations, although they are also used for decorating weddings,
15 years (a typical holiday in Mexico that is only for girls)
etc.And on the Day of the Dead, carved paper is one of the main elements of the program,
as in Mexico, by tradition, colorful altars with ritual
offerings for the departed, which, according to the conviction of Mexicans, come into the world
alive every year on November 2nd.

Represents
sheets of paper with artistically carved compositions of figures, words,
words, phrases, colors, symbolic images and even commercial signs, if
the subject requires it.It is characterized by a large number of holes of different shapes
on a relatively small sheet area, as well as the complexity of the compositions, the creation of which
requires technical and artistic skills. Sheets of paper are folded
turning into a pile on which the conceived drawing is embodied. When ready,
the product is a multiple copy of the same composition, which
strung on threads and stretched indoors or across the streets.

It is believed that
this tradition, like many others, has pre-Hispanic roots: amate paper was used
for offerings to deities in temples and was considered a sacred object. With the arrival of Europeans, amate was replaced by plain colored paper. Nowadays
used thin, designed for decoration work, which has the most
different colors. And while professional paper cutters are the ones who create
works of art on it, making carved compositions, albeit not so complex,
available to anyone, armed with paper and scissors.

San Salvador Wixolotla,
Carved Paper Center

San Salvador Wixolotla
(San Salvador Huixcolotla) is a municipality in the state of Puebla, which is considered the center,
where the craft of creating compositions from colored paper reached true heights.
It is here that the largest number of professional carvers live.
paper that create real works of art.

Used to be in Wixolotl,
as in many other places, paper flags were cut out solely for the purpose of
registration of holidays, mainly religious.
Over the years, the technique has been honed, and from using scissors they moved to chisels.
wrought iron, which made it possible to do more elegant work with
a lot of small details.

Tradition
was transmitted, which prevents its disappearance. Over time, the artisans of Wixolotla
began to sell their works in neighboring towns, as well as to people who
worked on large farms haciendas. Some time later, around 1930
year, the fame of the carved paper from Wixolotla spread throughout Puebla and in
the neighboring state of Tlaxcala. In the seventies, she reached the capital, where she received
confession. The craft thus reached a new, international level.
(exhibitions of works were held in the USA and Europe). However, Wixolotla
not the only place where colored paper is cut. Are recognized
also the works of masters from San Martín Texmelucan, Zacapoaxtla, Tehuacán, (all in the state of Puebla), as well as those made in
Mexico City.
Master’s works
distributed at exhibitions, in houses of culture, at holidays or in the form
decorations for catering establishments.Carved paper these days
has also turned into an advertising medium, often it depicts logos or
trade marks.

Production

Works are being made
completely by hand, which is why they are artisan. The process of creating the original drawing begins, on a solid
paper that, when superimposed on colored paper to be cut, serves
template. From 50 to 100 sheets of colored paper are processed at the same time,
superimposed on each other. Doesn’t require a lot of tools – chisels or chisels,
a hammer, a leaf of lead, and, above all, ingenuity and skill. For this
craft requires patience and a lot of dedication, which is felt in everyone
new work. Touching the newly created work, one can feel the sensitivity of the artist.
Carved paper is a fragile, delicate and light material.

Tool set

Artisans
have in their arsenal chisels of different sizes and shapes, which even have
their special names. The lead sheet prevents their point from dulling.
In this way, by striking the chisel with a hammer, a stack of sheets is processed,
which turns into paper lace with shapes and patterns.When the drawing is complete
cut out, the sheets of paper are separated from each other and strung on threads,
turning into ribbons reaching five meters or more.

Looking to the future

Due to the unchanging popularity that
has carved paper is used to decorate public events, this kind
folk craft has been recognized and supported by the Ministries of Tourism and Culture.
In 1998, representatives of the profession and officials from the Ministry of Culture decided to issue a decree. Protecting this type of craft, and so, September 22, 1998The Governor of the State of Puebla issued a decree declaring the craft of carved paper, which is created in the village of San Salvador Wixolotla, a cultural heritage of the State of Puebla. This confirms the fact that Wixolotla
is the cradle of this tradition.
Currently
different objects can be decorated with carved paper, for example, banners, tablecloths, friezes,
knitted products, etc., and instead of thin colored paper, more
durable materials – amate, plastic, etc. The tradition continues to live in
modern performance.

Per article at http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papel_picado

90,000 Ability to manage time. The laws of outstanding people

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In extreme situations, when a person is on the verge between life and death, time begins to flow in a special way – it stretches or contracts.

In 1976, the crew of test pilot Marina Popovich during the flight on the An-12 got into an extremely dangerous situation: inside the cargo compartment the fuel tank from the Mig-29 was depressurized, about 4 tons of kerosene spilled on the floor. The plane has turned into a large flying bomb, ready to explode from any spark.

In addition, at that moment the An-12 got into a powerful thunderstorm front; bright flashes of lightning surrounded the defenseless plane literally from all sides … And just at that time, all 12 crew members felt that their plane seemed to be frozen in the air, the time on board suddenly stopped…

Another test pilot, Mark Gallay, did fire in the air during the tests of the La-5 fighter.

Subsequently, he described this incident as follows: “Suddenly, from somewhere under the hood, a long tongue of flame was knocked out … Acrid gray smoke crept into the cabin from below … time. Each second acquired the ability to expand indefinitely as needed: and at this moment a person manages to do so many things like at no other time. It seems that the passage of time has almost stopped! “.

Several years ago, at the international air show, the engine of the MiG-29 aircraft failed. The fighter crashed into the ground and exploded. Subsequently, when deciphering the records of the “black box”, it turned out that the pilot Kvochur, a second before the ejection, managed to do so many operations to control the faulty aircraft that under normal circumstances it could have taken minutes. And the story of the test pilot himself about this event took several hours altogether!

Even more different situations related to the time factor occurred during the war years.So, the soldier Fyodor Nikolayevich Filatov, an instant before the explosion, survived several agonizing minutes, watching, as if bewitched, as fiery cracks run along the steel shell of the shell, how the metal cracks and slowly, like in a dream, fragments fly away (the description given to him during the Second World War exactly matched the later high-speed video recordings).

Paratrooper A. Konakov, falling in 1992 from a height of 35 meters without a parachute, claims that he managed to group and land correctly only thanks to an unnaturally extended time…

The Propeller newspaper in 1992 investigated and timed the testimony of another parachutist, who described one of his jumps in 1988: But suddenly my descent stopped, and I hung in the air, almost touching the deadly wires with my feet. Strange! I looked up – no, the canopy of the parachute did not catch on for anything, all that holds it is air!

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed people running across the field; they also froze in one place and, as it were, hung in the air! Then I remembered everything that I had been taught, pulled a few lines with force and… the parachute moved away from the wires! I don’t remember the landing, but the people who ran up then said that I sat for several minutes with my eyes open and didn’t answer any questions … ”.

Thus, in critical situations, when a person is on the verge between life and death, time begins to flow in a special way – it stretches. And the stronger the fear creeping up to a person, the more the moments stretch, providing extra seconds for making saving decisions.

Then, of course, the body relaxes, the time in it after acceleration first slows down and only then returns to normal. After the danger has passed, people are in shock, do not react to anything, that is, they seem to fall out of our usual time. First, a minute lives in one terrible moment, then a minute of shock is felt as one moment of your life!

The consequences can be the most incredible: the watch on the hands of eyewitnesses suddenly starts to rush; people nearby, who do not even know about the danger, just as unexpectedly for them begin to see “slow motion movies”; those on the brink of death increase not only speed, but also muscle strength!

The last statement will have to be clarified: muscles do not become faster, they just work over a longer period of time; the impulse of force increases, and at the same time as the time is stretched.

Now it becomes clear why, fleeing from wolves, people sometimes climb up perfectly smooth trunks; why, having seen a bear, you can jump over a high fence from a place; which helps in the event of a fire to pull out massive things or take out heavy wounded from the battlefield.

It also happens the other way around: when the danger is close, but has not yet arrived, time does not stretch, but contracts. As if the body needs a reserve of unused time. So, just in case!

… In the summer of 1974 in Kyrgyzstan, in the Tien Shan mountains, Sergei Ratnikov almost fell into the abyss. My brother helped – according to Sergei, he instantly overcame several tens of meters and held out his hand … , or stretch it.

And this phenomenon has even been experimentally confirmed. It turns out that even trained testers get the strongest stress when moving on centrifuges with high acceleration (up to 9g) and at the same time clearly feel the slowing down or speeding up of time.