What Are Bespoke Orthopaedic Shoes?

This is the big question.

If you struggle to find shoes that fit comfortably, you may have come across the term bespoke orthopaedic shoes. But what does “bespoke” actually mean, and how are these shoes different from ordinary footwear or ready-made orthopaedic shoes?

At Sweetmore & Firth, bespoke orthopaedic shoes are individually designed and created around the shape, requirements and lifestyle of the person who will wear them.

Rather than starting with a standard shoe and trying to make your feet fit it, we start with you and your feet.

Based in New Mills, High Peak, Sweetmore & Firth works with clients locally and with people who travel from across the UK for specialist, one-to-one bespoke footwear.

What does “bespoke” really mean?

A bespoke shoe is not simply a larger, wider or modified version of a standard shoe.

It is footwear created around your individual requirements. This can include your foot shape, differences between your feet, how you walk, the support you require, the space needed for particular areas of your feet and, importantly, what you actually want to wear.

At Sweetmore & Firth, the process begins with a detailed consultation and assessment. Measurements, foot impressions and 3D scanning can be used alongside gait analysis to help us build a detailed understanding of your feet and how they move.

From this information, a bespoke last is created. The last is the three-dimensional form around which your shoe is constructed, so it is a fundamental part of achieving an individual fit.

But the measurements and technical information are only part of the picture.

Every person has a different story

At Sweetmore & Firth, we have created shoes for people with wide feet, narrow feet, short feet and feet that simply don't fit the shapes and sizes available in standard footwear.

We have worked with people living with conditions and changes such as diabetes, lymphoedema, polio, bunions and hammer toes.

But behind every pair of feet is a person, and everyone who walks through our door has their own struggles, their own frustrations and their own reasons for coming to see us.

A big part of our journey with you is listening.

We listen to you, your story and what you need from your footwear. We want to understand not just what is happening with your feet, but how it affects your everyday life and what you are hoping your footwear will allow you to do.

Sometimes technically isn't the answer.

What should work in a book doesn't always mean that is what you need.

By building a relationship with each and every customer, it allows us to hear you and what you need, as well as listen to what your body is telling us.

For us, this is a very important part of the process.

It is just as important as the fit of the last.

Who might benefit from bespoke orthopaedic shoes?

Bespoke footwear can be particularly useful for people who find that standard footwear simply cannot accommodate their feet comfortably.

You may have:

• Feet that are significantly different in size or shape

• Wide, narrow or particularly short feet

• Difficulty finding shoes that fit comfortably

• Areas of pressure, rubbing or recurring blisters

• Bunions or hammer toes

• Arthritis or other long-term foot problems

• Flat feet or other biomechanical considerations

• Foot deformities

• Swelling or changes in foot volume

• A need to accommodate an orthotic

• Footwear requirements that cannot be met by standard shoes

However, needing bespoke footwear isn't necessarily about having a particular diagnosis.

Sometimes the simplest explanation is:

“I can't find a pair of shoes that fits me properly.”

That alone can be a very real problem.

Standard footwear is produced around a range of shapes and sizes designed to fit as many people as possible. But there is no such thing as an “average” person when it comes to the detailed shape and function of their feet.

What if normal shoes don't fit?

This is one of the reasons people come to Sweetmore & Firth.

You might find that one shoe fits one foot but not the other. Perhaps you need more room in one particular area, but making the whole shoe wider creates problems elsewhere.

Or maybe the shape of your foot simply doesn't correspond well with the shape of commercially available footwear.

Trying to solve these problems by buying progressively larger shoes isn't always the answer.

A shoe that is too long or too wide just to accommodate one area of the foot may create an uncomfortable or unstable fit elsewhere.

With bespoke footwear, the approach is different.

The shoe can be developed around the specific shape and requirements identified during your assessment.

Instead of asking:

“Which standard shoe can we make your foot fit into?”

we ask:

“What does your foot need, and how can we create the footwear around that?”

Can bespoke shoes be created for different-sized feet?

Yes.

Feet are not always identical. Differences in length, width, shape or volume can make finding a comfortable pair of standard shoes particularly difficult.

Bespoke footwear allows the two shoes to be developed around the individual requirements of each foot rather than assuming that both feet are the same.

The exact design will depend on your feet and what is required, but the starting point is always an individual assessment rather than a standard shoe size.

Can bespoke shoes accommodate orthotics?

Yes, bespoke footwear and custom orthotics can be considered together where appropriate.

If you require custom orthotic insoles, this can form part of the footwear process. By creating the last to match the base of the foot, an orthotic can then be created to cradle the foot before the shoe is created around them both.

This means the foot, orthotic and footwear can be considered together rather than treating each element separately.

What happens during a bespoke footwear consultation?

Your consultation is the starting point for the whole process.

We begin by talking about your feet, your footwear difficulties, your lifestyle and what you would like your shoes to achieve.

This conversation is just as important as the measurements.

We want to understand what has been difficult for you, what you have already tried and what you need from your footwear.

The assessment can include measurements, foot impressions, 3D scanning and gait analysis. This information helps us understand your feet and how you move before we begin developing the footwear.

From there, the bespoke footwear process develops through a number of stages.

1. Consultation and assessment

We take the time to understand you, your feet and your requirements.

Your feet are assessed and measured, with impressions and other information collected as required. Gait analysis can also form part of the assessment.

We also begin discussing the style, materials and colours you would like your footwear to have.

2. Creating your bespoke last

The information gathered during your assessment is used to create your bespoke last.

The last is a three-dimensional representation of your foot and is fundamental to creating the shape and fit of your footwear.

It is not simply about creating a shoe in a particular size. The last allows us to create around the individual shape and requirements of your feet.

3. First fitting

The first fitting takes place before the soles are added.

This gives us the opportunity to check the fit and make adjustments where necessary.

The sole and heel can also be selected at this stage.

4. Final fitting

Once your footwear has been completed, polished and prepared, we check the finished shoes with you.

If minor adjustments are needed, these can be addressed as part of the fitting process.

Bespoke footwear is a collaborative process. It isn't simply a case of measuring your feet once and sending a pair of shoes away.

The conversation continues throughout the process.

Can orthopaedic shoes be stylish?

Yes — and I think this is an important part of bespoke footwear.

Needing specialist footwear doesn't mean that you should have to abandon your personal style.

At Sweetmore & Firth, we don't work from a fixed catalogue. Instead, we start with what you would like to wear and develop the design around your individual requirements.

There are, of course, some limitations depending on the specification needed, but style, colour and materials can all be considered as part of the design process.

Your footwear should feel like your shoes, not simply something you have had to wear because you couldn't find anything else.

The aim is to create footwear that is functional, comfortable and personal to you.

How long does it take to create bespoke orthopaedic shoes?

There isn't one fixed timescale because every pair is different.

The complexity of your footwear, the requirements identified during your assessment and the design all influence the process.

At Sweetmore & Firth, the expected timescale is discussed with you at the beginning. As an independent, one-person business, there can occasionally be changes to the anticipated timescale, but you will be kept informed of any significant changes.

Bespoke footwear takes time because the aim is to get the fit and function right rather than simply creating a shoe as quickly as possible.

How much do bespoke orthopaedic shoes cost?

Bespoke footwear is individually designed and created, so the cost is different from buying a pair of standard shoes.

At Sweetmore & Firth, current footwear pricing includes the consultation, bespoke last and finished footwear, with additional costs depending on the specification required. Payment plans are also available.

Because everyone's requirements are different, it is best to discuss your individual needs during a consultation so that the likely costs can be explained clearly.

What is the difference between bespoke orthopaedic shoes and ordinary shoes?

The biggest difference is where the process starts.

With ordinary footwear, you choose from a range of standard shapes and sizes and find the option that fits you best.

With bespoke footwear, the starting point is your individual feet and requirements.

That means the design, construction and fitting can be developed around you rather than asking you to adapt to a standard shoe.

This can be particularly valuable when your feet don't conform easily to standard footwear.

Do I need bespoke shoes?

Not necessarily.

Bespoke footwear isn't automatically the right option for everyone.

Depending on your feet and your requirements, you may be better suited to well-fitting ready-to-wear footwear, specialist footwear, custom orthotic insoles, or a combination of different approaches.

That's why an individual assessment is important.

At Sweetmore & Firth, the aim isn't to sell you something you don't need. The aim is to understand your feet and your footwear requirements and work out what approach is most appropriate.

Bespoke footwear at Sweetmore & Firth

Every pair of bespoke orthopaedic shoes we create is developed around the individual person who will wear them.

I'm Stephanie Firth, a specialist orthopaedic shoemaker based in New Mills, High Peak. I have a BA in Footwear Design and an MA in Biomechanics and Bespoke Footwear Design, and I have worked in bespoke and orthopaedic footwear for many years.

Sweetmore & Firth was established to create footwear that combines specialist fitting, biomechanics and traditional shoemaking craftsmanship with the individuality that comes from creating something specifically for one person.

For me, bespoke footwear isn't simply about creating a shoe that fits a foot.

It is about listening.

It is about understanding the person who is wearing it.

And it is about taking everything we learn about you, your feet and your needs and bringing that together to create footwear that is truly yours.

If you have been struggling to find footwear that fits, or if your feet have requirements that standard shoes simply cannot accommodate, a bespoke footwear consultation is an opportunity to explore what may be possible.

Could bespoke footwear be right for you?

Sweetmore & Firth offers one-to-one bespoke footwear consultations from our workshop and fitting studio in New Mills, High Peak, with clients travelling from across the UK.

If you've spent years struggling to find shoes that fit, get in touch and tell us about your feet, your footwear and what you've been struggling with.

We'd love to hear your story.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are bespoke orthopaedic shoes?

Bespoke orthopaedic shoes are individually designed and created around the shape, requirements and needs of the person who will wear them.

Who might need bespoke orthopaedic shoes?

Bespoke footwear can be considered when standard footwear cannot accommodate the shape, size or requirements of your feet. This can include people with significant differences between their feet, wide or narrow feet, swelling, bunions, hammer toes, foot deformities or other individual footwear requirements.

Can bespoke shoes be created for different-sized feet?

Yes. Each shoe can be developed around the individual requirements of each foot, which can be particularly useful when the two feet differ in size or shape.

Can bespoke shoes accommodate orthotics?

Yes, where appropriate, bespoke footwear and custom orthotics can be considered together. The relationship between the foot, orthotic and footwear can be considered as part of the overall bespoke process.

Can I choose the colour and style?

Yes. Style, materials and colour can be considered as part of the bespoke design process, although the footwear specification may place some limitations on what is possible.

How long do bespoke orthopaedic shoes take to create?

The timescale varies according to the complexity and requirements of each pair. Your expected timescale will be discussed with you at the beginning of the process.

How much do bespoke orthopaedic shoes cost?

The cost depends on the footwear and specification required. Current Sweetmore & Firth pricing can be discussed with you during your consultation.

Do I need bespoke shoes if I have foot pain?

Not necessarily. Foot pain can have many causes, and bespoke footwear isn't the right solution for everyone. An individual assessment can help determine whether bespoke footwear, orthotics, ready-to-wear footwear or another approach may be appropriate.

works for them.