Minimalist Shoes Top Holiday Gift Lists

Aug. 30, 2011 - PRLog -- 2011 is sure to go on the books as the year when less became more, at least where footwear was concerned. Minimalist (aka “barefoot” or natural motion) footwear is characterized by being simultaneously flexible, extremely lightweight and durable; combining to create a shoe that allows the foot to move naturally.

If projections are on point, 2012 should see the movement grow even more. As the year moves toward the holiday buying season, three quarters of active Americans say they are familiar with minimalist footwear, and nearly half of those individuals have purchased or plan to buy a pair.* The category has already seen triple-digit growth over the same period in 2010, and projections show it continuing into 2012.**

The selection of minimalist footwear options has grown at a comparable rate. Though the start of 2011 saw a mere handful of minimalist companies, the 2011 holiday season offers more than thirty options. People have their choice of do-it-yourself running sandals as worn by the Tarahumara Indians, tough and funky trail running shoes, light shoes for dancing, leather slipper style moccasins, shoes that look like feet and even shoes that are nothing more than a thin plastic wrapper for the foot. Each has its own use and audience. And yet, few are designed with styling appropriate for everyday wear, combined with technical and durability elements sufficient for high levels of activity.

To that end, kigo footwear is a pioneer in minimalist lifestyle shoes. In a recent study conducted among hundreds of minimalist shoe wearers through a variety of social media channels, people voiced the ways that they wear minimalist shoes. By far, lifestyle wear dominates the reasons for buying and wearing this type of footwear.

I wear minimalist shoes primarily for everyday activity. -  54.5%
I go barefoot whenever possible, but sometimes need a shoe and want it as light as possible. - 32.3%
I am a runner who either runs barefoot or in minimalist shoes. - 27.3%
I wear minimalist shoes primarily for athletics. - 23.2%
I wear minimalist shoes primarily for outdoor adventures (hiking/camping/paddle etc). - 21.2%

For the general consumer, minimalist footwear offers tremendous fitness benefits, including strengthening the feet and lower legs, lengthening the Achilles tendon, engaging the 7200 nerve endings in the bottoms of the feet, and aligning the posture. While the early growth of the minimalist space was driven by athletes, the rapid uptake of the category by lifestyle wearers indicates a growing priority toward style.

The kigo footwear flit and drive are almost as light, spacious and flexible as no shoes at all, in a style that blends in and works for everyday attire, and with construction that is durable enough for virtually any activity. The drive is a laced unisex shoe engineered for active wear including running, hiking, walking, cross fit, paddle and gym wear. The flit is a more purely lifestyle shoe, featuring a mary jane style and incredible durability that makes them an option for everyday, yoga or Pilates, gym wear, hiking, paddle and more.

kigo footwear also has built its footwear to be totally ecologically responsible. The shoes are produced in a low carbon output facility from a unique, proprietary combination of certified non-toxic, post-consumer and recycled textiles. They are vegan and cradle-to-cradle. The flit and drive shoes can be sent to a processing facility in California, and recycled into a new pair of kigo shoes. For more information on the kigo footwear Recycling Program, contact Rachelle Kuramoto at rachelle@kigofootwear.com.

“It is hard to say who would be the ideal recipient of a pair of kigos,” said Jan Kuramoto, co-founder of kigo footwear. “For the travel enthusiast, five ounce shoes that pack totally flat are a staple; for the outdoor enthusiast, shoes that are durable and water resistant will keep them adventuring; for the athlete, shoes that improve balance and movement are like an extra jolt of performance. And what’s best, the styling coordinates with practically anything the recipient is wearing, from athletic shorts to a casual skirt, and the wearer can feel proud of what has gone into making their shoes.”

Retail pricing on the flit and drive is $87.00 and $91.00 USD, respectively. kigo footwear can be purchased online at www.kigofootwear.com and from specialty retailers throughout the USA, Canada, UK and Australia. See the Retailers page for a full listing.

* Leisure Trends Group’s Most Active American’s PanelTM (MAAPTM), August 2011
** Outdoor Industry Association, August 2011

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About kigo footwear
kigo is footwear for the barefoot lifestyle and minimalist athletics. Shoes that are stylish enough for everyday wear, sturdy enough for athletics and almost as lightweight and flexible as bare make kigo footwear the shoe of choice for barefoot lifestyle. Every kigo footwear offering is constructed to be as good for the Earth as for the body, with responsible construction that features lightweight, durable post-consumer and non-toxic materials. Please visit us at www.kigofootwear.com.

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