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Five Reasons to Wear Ara Shoes

You might have heard the saying ‘the secret to the ara feeling’, and wondered... What exactly is the ‘ara feeling’? Well, it’s the feeling one experiences when wearing a pair of ara shoes that have been so carefully crafted to blend traditional skills with innovative technologies. The sensation your feet will experience is something extraordinary, and just one of the reasons ara shoes continue to be one of our most-loved brands at Peter Sheppard Footwear. But the ‘ara feeling’ is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to why you should be wearing ara shoes. Let us enlighten you.

1. Designed and developed in Langenfeld, Germany

Nestled between Düsseldorf and Cologne and some 338km north-west of Berlin is Langenfeld, the small town where ara shoes are designed and developed. When putting together this article, we couldn’t find much that Langfeld is well-known for, besides what it shares with the rest of Germany - German beer, baking bread and making great cars. Fortunately, we now know that Langfeld is also the home of ara shoes. And that makes Langenfeld special to us.

2. A global leader in innovative footwear technology

Germany isn’t just good at making beer, bread and cars. Germany is a global leader of innovative technology in shoemaking. The new EnergyStep collection is a perfect example of how ara almost guarantees a comfortable walking experience. It's thanks to an ultralight sole that meets two gel inserts, one at the ball and other at the heel of the foot. This ensures superior cushioning and great shock absorption and, combined with high-tech, breathable upper materials, creates the perfect fit for tireless all-day walking. And EnergyStep is just one of the incredible features in ara shoes. Many of our styles also feature the HighSoft and Fusion4 constructions, and almost all of them are also orthotic-friendly.

3. A third generation business

As a family-owned business ourselves, it always feels good partnering with likeminded people. ara is a 3rd generation family-owned business that has been making fine footwear since 1949. It's the handing down of skills, the knowledge and the hard work that set family-owned businesses apart. Know that when you buy from a family-owned footwear retailer like Peter Sheppard Footwear and ara, you’re not just buying footwear but helping support a dream and build a legacy.

4. Ergonomic lasts are easy on the feet

The shoe last (or commonly known as ‘the heart of the shoe’) is the starting point of every shoe design. So, it makes sense that it’s at the creation of the last that ergonomics is taken into careful consideration. At ara, lasts are designed with anatomical arch support that ensure no stress is placed on tendons or ligaments. They absorb shock and help reduce pressure on the heel. Super smooth soft-leathers, highly flexible soles and supple, padded innersoles work hand in hand to create blissful all-day wearability.

5. A shoemaker, not a statement maker

In essence, ara is a shoemaker, not a fashion label attached to shoes. Many of the styles in our ara collection are designed to look impressive on the foot but it’s the fitting and comfort features that really make these shoes special. Yet, you can still find an on-trend sneaker like this one or a versatile cross-over sandal like this one that combine the features we discussed above with stylish finishes and details.

Our range of ara shoes is one of the biggest in Australia and we are proud to be retailers of this well-respected brand. To view the full ara collection, please click here.

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