I’ll be honest, as much as I love fashion (and I do), during my first foray into parenthood I somehow had the innate inclination to leave my child’s feet as nature intended. Bare. (With the exception of socks and tights in winter, of course. I’m not a complete monster.) But it would irk me no end when I’d see other Mums stuffing their little babies’ feet into shoes for the sole (excuse the pun) purpose of aesthetic satisfaction. No!! Podiatrist Sally Belcher asserts, “Before walking there is no need for a solid shoe” and only then the need for footwear is, and I quote, “to protect their little feet from injury and cold.”
Why, you may be thinking as you peruse those cute Converse on the Internet?
“A baby’s foot is predominantly cartilage which hardens to become bone as we grow,” explains Belcher, who owns Rose Bay Podiatry in the Eastern Suburbs of Sydney. “This makes the foot soft and pliable in babies. Restrictive shoes (even grow suits or socks that are too small) can be detrimental to the growing foot. It is also important for babies to have bare or unrestricted feet for sensory development and proprioception (or awareness of self in space).”
The birth of my second child became synonymous with the advent of Instagram on my iPhone and the related obsession with documenting every outfit he wore online. I would scroll through pictures of babies in shoes and wince but simultaneously envy their parentally-orchestrated awesome coordinated style. I wanted so badly to mimic their ensembles in my own feed but my priority was feet first, fashion later. Cue, the answer to my prayers.
When my son was approaching the 6 month mark I discovered a brand called Paperkrane (est. 2012)… and I have never looked back. The brainchild of kooky Kiwi-born creative Kate Corleison and her business partner, Melbournite Zara Cooper, Paperkrane booties inhabit the flair and more importantly the flexibility of their origami-inspired moniker. “Our shoes are designed to keep feet warm and protected, but at the same time, allow them to grow and move naturally. As such our shoes are lightweight, flexible and easy to wear,” say the Paperkrane creators. [Keep reading to find out how you can win a pair.]
“Our main ethos is the notion of having footwear that is 'natural' and close to barefoot, as this is best for developing little feet,” say the design duo, echoing Belcher’s ethos that barefoot is best. “The more time children spend barefoot, the better. However practically, it is impossible for children living in the modern world to spend an overly significant time period on a daily basis, barefoot. This is where we come in. Kids spend a lot of time in shoes, especially in the winter months, and we firmly believe that shoes need to give little feet the practical protection they need without interfering with the benefits of walking barefoot.”
In this age of Insta-worthy living, Corleison and Cooper ‘get’ what the #momsofig are looking for, which in all honesty is what makes Paperkrane the success it is. “We are always guided by the mantra we invented: 'from photoshoot to playground', and what this means is that we constantly seek to create fun, creative, fashion forward and eye-catching shoes that are fashion shoot worthy, but at the same time, will bend, flex and not inhibit kids doing what they do best - playing!”
PK Midi Soles (size 20) - style: Splodge (Halloween Restock)
From bright yellow soles to colourful laces (purely for show), the Paperkrane aesthetic keeps pace with the sartorial times just as with its target market; kids. Corleison and Cooper have created footwear that grow with your child and adapt intelligently to their changing needs, both physically and practically. “As children get older, shoes definitely need to get tougher in order to withstand playground antics, day-care, ball play and of course dirt, sand, water and everything else that's thrown their way! Our Flexi range is designed with all of this in mind,” say the Paperkrane pair. “They incorporate a full rubber sole which is tough and durable, but at the same time, bendy, flexible and extremely lightweight.”
The flexibility aspect is perhaps the greatest selling point of the Paperkrane brand, second only to its inimitable style, as it is what makes them the next best thing to barefoot. Belcher reiterates the benefits of such design, saying the “barefoot/flexible style of footwear is great as it continues to allow the foot to move unrestricted whilst walking and also encouraging the development of the small intrinsic muscles in the foot.” Belcher adds though that it is important to note that “children who require more support due to a structural concern may require a more solid shoe with support to aid in development and walking.”
My now 3.5 year old has grown up in PKs, so-called by the mass clientele who have since become known as the PK Krew. With each new pair he thrills at the print, which have ranged from bananas and David Bowie to Batman inspired neutrals and most recently Halloween candy. But even better, they have instilled him with the independence that laces and complicated buckles prohibit, as he learned on his own terms that he could put on and take off his own shoes without adult supervision or support.
PK Flexi Soles (size 27) - style: Candy Corn (Halloween Restock)
When I fell pregnant for a third time, without a word of a lie, my first thought was that I would finally get to put a newborn in PKs. With a drawer full of mismatched socks, because let’s face it, they were not made to stay on, I was looking forward to elasticated PK ankles designed to withstand little kicky feet. “Our baby shoes give little feet warmth and protection year round,” say Corleison and Cooper, “and this is something that is no less important for infants than it is for older children! It also helps that they look oh so cute on tiny feet!” And omg they do!!
My littlest PK babe has navigated rolling over, crawling and standing in the original soft sole PKs but as she turns 1 this week and cruising slowly gives way to those all-important first steps, we’ve graduated to the brand’s Midi range. Updating the Softi with a thin and lightweight rubber and suede sole, the Midi PKs are that bit more durable to contend with the unpredictable nature typical of a first-time walker.
When it comes to knowing which size is right for each child, most parents assume a visit to the local shoe shop is necessary. However, with meticulous advice with regards sizing on the website, the Paperkrane size guide is as comprehensive as you need. I measured both my kids’ feet with a tape measure and as per the advice on the site added 1cm for wiggle room then opted to size up once more. “Through the Toddler years: between 12 months and 3 years the foot grows rapidly,” states Belcher, advising parents to check their child’s shoe size every 2 to 3 months.
Understanding Mum logic on account of having a total of four offspring between them, Corleison and Cooper thus advocate sizing up in order for kids to get the most wear out of each pair. Paperkrane derived from their mutual desire to marry ‘foot health’ and funkiness, unavailable on the wider market, to give kids of all kinds the option of great footwear. The pair has heard back from parents of kids with shoe aversions, orthotics, foot braces, and sensory processing disorders; all of whom have responded positively to PKs.
“We wanted to bring a shoe to the market that allowed parents access to a product that puts trust in their child's body's ability to grow and develop as it should, that didn't interfere with their natural gait and motion, as logically this truly is what makes sense to us,” say Corleison and Cooper. “Allowing the body, specifically feet in this instance, to develop naturally is truly so beneficial, and this is what we wanted to offer to other parents out there.”
I’ve got to be honest, the only complaint I have where Paperkrane is concerned is that I only wish I’d discovered them sooner!
If you’d like to nab a pair of PKs for your little, head over to our competition page now and enter our giveaway to win a pair of your choice from the next drop. The theme is Halloween and I guarantee you’re in for a treat!!
L to R: Squirmy Wormy, Candy Corn, Splodge, UV Zeebs