Fit for life– a guide for parents

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The ECCO® philosophy is simple:

While other shoe companies are obsessed with shoes, our

obsession is with the foot. How it works. How it responds. How

it absorbs. How all fifty-two bones and fifty-six joints are capable

of moving you. And how our shoes mould to the foot – not the

other way around. With children’s feet still growing and sensitive

to pressure and load, our last, use of soft leather and flexible and

light soles are crucial to support the correct development of a

child’s natural freedom of movement. A freedom that makes them

fit for being kids…active, curious, exploring and inventive.

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The ECCO® philosophy is simple:

Children’s feet have to last their entire life. That is why it is important to allow the bones and muscles in the foot to

develop free and unrestricted. It is easy to spot a jacket that’s too small

– but there is unlikely to be any lasting damage in that. With shoes

it’s different. The soft bones of the foot can to adopt the shape of

poor fitting or too small shoes – possibly leading to future foot related

problems.

What we know about children’s feet is all reflected in our shoes. And there are huge differences in the shape of an infant’s foot, a child’s

foot and a junior’s foot – how they grow, how they change. Differences

that need to be reflected in our shoe construction.

We take great pride in the design and construction of our shoes and

want to share this important knowledge with you. Once you have read

this leaflet we hope that you will recognize the importance of your

child’s foot development and appreciate the need for quality footwear

that allow feet to work, breathe and develop naturally.

It all starts with the foot.

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Feet are not just feet

There’s more to a child’s foot than sizeA child’s foot is not simply a small version of an adult’s foot. During

a full 18 years of growth everything connected with the shape,

proportion and structure of the foot changes.

Children’s feet grow in stages. In the first 2 years growth is approx. 2

cm a year, equal to almost half a size every 2 months. From the age

of 2 or 3, that figure is approx. 1,5 cm or a half size every 3 months.

Luckily growth slows thereafter, settling down to 1 cm a year until the

age of 13 to 15.

It goes without saying that with a growth rate like this, children’s

shoe sizes should be checked several times every year. And this is

especially important for smaller children because the nerve endings

in their feet are not fully developed, and it is difficult for them to tell

whether their shoes are too tight or not.

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Infants, 0 to 2 yearsThe foot is very soft and flexible. The bones are not yet ‘connected’,

and the arches are not yet developed – there’s a large amount of fatty

tissue and underdeveloped muscle, which gives the foot a ‘flat-footed’

look. A wide forefoot is the characteristic shape at this age.

Children, 3 to 7 yearsThe foot continues to be soft and flexible. The arches are now beginning

to develop, along with the muscles. The shape of the foot begins to

narrow, but the forefoot is still wider in comparison to an adult foot.

Juniors, 8 to 12 yearsSome of the flexibility has gone, but the foot is still very pressure

sensitive. The arches are almost fully developed giving the foot an

adult-like shape. However the forefoot is still comparatively wide.

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ECCO® shoes reflect all the knowledge we have of the infant, child

and junior foot – how it functions, how it grows, how the foot changes

shape – and most of all how important proper development of the foot

is for a child’s further body development.

ECCO shoes incorporate all of these features to ensure healthy foot

development:

• Weuselight,softandflexiblematerialstogivemaximummobility

to the foot.

• Everythingthatisunnecessaryistakenaway–i.e.noarch-

support! As the muscles in the arch develop better on their own.

• Alowheelheightdistributesthebodyweightevenlyovermostof

the sole, whereas higher heels only load the front of the foot.

• Theclosuresystemisadjustableinordertosurroundthefoot

perfectly and keep the heel in place.

Shoes are not just shoes

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The right fitAccording to the ECCO fit, a shoe should feel snug in the instep and

roomy in the forefoot. To demonstrate this, grab your hand in front of

the wrist, so your fingers feel tight/locked. Conversely hold around the

wrist and you’ll discover how free and easily the fingers can move,

which is precisely how the foot should feel.

The correct sizeThe rule of thumb is that there should be a total of 1,5 cm from the tip

of the toe to the end of the shoe. That extra space allows for 3 things:

• About0,5cmallowsfor‘extensionroom’whenwalking.

• About0,8cmallowsthefoottogrow.

• About0,25cmistakenupbythetoe-box.

The necessary ‘footcheck’Check the shoe fitting by measuring the length of the foot on the insole

allowing 1,5 cm extra space. More or less space and the shoe is either

two big or too small.

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Shoes have two basic functions: to protect and to look good. To

ECCO® both functions are important and therefore equally prioritized

for two reasons: What use is an anatomically correct shoe if the child

won’t wear it? And how much is fashionable design worth if it might

harm the feet?

In the creation of shoes, ECCO has two sources of inspiration: nature

and children themselves.

Every pair of shoes is enriched with functions. Each function rep¬resents

an advantage to the child to do better and feel better in all seasons, in

all conditions, and in all kinds of situations. The shoes simply have to

match the physical activities that characterize a child’s lifestyle.

Design is not just design

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A good grip and ground contact means safe walking.

Adjustable for maximum individual fit.

Free to move! Light and flexible

sole from heel to toe.

Correctly shaped forefoot with free space for the toes.

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How does hot weather affect my child’s feet?Children’s feet sweat more during hot weather, even up to a quarter

of a pint per day. It is essential to have shoes that breathe properly

so that problems like athlete’s foot can be avoided. The foot may also

swell a little in the heat, making a good fit even more important.

What’s the best way to look after the shoes?Leather shoes should be cleaned with a moist sponge. Apply shoe cream.

Rub in well. Buff to a good finish and remove any excess shoe cream.

Shoes made of nubuck should be cleaned with a brush or dry sponge.

Hold the shoe uppers over steam, brush and allow to dry. Use a leather

all-protector spray.

Shoes with a 100% waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane need special

care. Use the same instructions as mentioned above. Please ensure that

the shoe care product selected is approved for usewithGORE-TEX®

footwear, like many of our ECCO® shoe care products.

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LightChoosing lightweight materials is of high priority in: lining, foam materials

and the outsole. Reducing weight means gaining comfort for the feet.

Hard-wearingThe ECCO® outsole is made of hardwearing PU or rubber, strong and

very durable, with flexibility and a natural grip. Heel and toecaps are

strengthened for durability.

Shock-absorberThe heel structure is based on ECCO’s Dynamic Energy Concept

– providing a shock-absorbing effect, which reduces the impact of

running and jumping on heels, knees and back.

FlexibleTo help the foot develop as naturally as possible from heel to toe, ECCO

outsoles are made of soft and flexible materials such as Freon-free PU

and natural latex rubber. Extreme flexibility – matching the feet.

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SoftSoftness in every detail: the tanning of the leather, the ECCO

Comfort Fibre System™ inlay sole, the midsole, the advanced shock-

absorbing construction – combined with a flexible outsole. Comfortably

soft from day one!

Thermal liningExtreme conditions call for extreme solutions. ECCO’s thermal lining is

designed to keep the feet warm and dry.

WaterproofECCO is a world leader in manufacturing footwear guaranteed to

keep the feet dry in all weather conditions. ECCO exclusively uses a

GORE-TEX® membrane that allows the feet to breathe while keeping

them dry. Sweat and condensation are transported out through the

membrane, without moisture coming in.

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· Flexible as feet· Soft as skin they surround · Natural foot-shaped fit· Adjustable for individual fit · Light for freedom of movement · Breathable for nice dry feet

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6 good reasonsfor choosing ECCO® shoes