(Photo credit: ifundwomen.org)
There’s an old saying that goes something like, “beauty is pain.” So it has become commonplace that chronic discomfort doesn’t appear to deter women from purchasing some cute, strappy stilettos they love even though they may cause severe pain at the end of the night (and back pain over time, but that’s another story). The average woman who owns high heels has nine pairs. And when asked what they do when shoes hurt their feet, 38 percent of women said they’d “wear them anyway if I like them.”
That’s where scientist Jazmine Davis comes in.
Davis founded her shoe company Jazmine Kionna, because she felt style should not be sacrificed for comfort! She got the idea on a shopping trip to Chicago, where she tried on a pair of designer shoes and the pain was terrible.
(Photo credit: ifundwomen.org)
She knew immediately from that moment on what her destiny was. She moved to New York and learned the key components of a high-heeled shoe. Eventually, she was awarded a grant from The Black UpStart, a company that teaches aspiring Black entrepreneurs how to start a successful and profitable business. Throughout her journey, Jazmine Kionna was created to provide an alternative shoe option that is both affordable and comfortable.
According to the website, the company builds shoes around our proprietary insoles that mold to your feet’s specific pressure points, cushions every step, and minimize the impact of walking and standing (even dancing!).
“I founded Jazmine Kionna because style should not be sacrificed for comfort. My spark moment occurred on a trip to Chicago. I was so excited to see the city, but I did not come for the world-renowned attractions. No, I came to SHOP! Having earned a small fortune from an internship, I decided to treat myself to my first official pair of designer heels.”
“I purchased a rental car, filled it with snacks and water, and hit the road for five hours barely containing my excitement. Yet, the sheer and utter bliss I felt was short-lived when I finally slipped on a pair of designer shoes. The pain was unbearable to walk in!”
“As an orphan at a young age due to the death of both my parents, I was accustomed to working hard in order to live comfortably. What frustrated me was how hard I worked to be able to afford something of quality only to have to sacrifice comfort.”
“As my designer shoes collected dust, I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and entered the world of research and development for a Fortune 50 company. I saw first hand what was needed to create a product. Inspired, I decided it was time to end high heel hell. I enrolled myself in a school to learn how to make shoes and embarked on a journey to design a high heel shoe that I could wear to work and beyond.”
Whether to make a fashion statement, appear taller, look professional, or complete an outfit, many women like to wear high heels. However, wearing a high heel puts your foot in an awkward position and can lead to foot pain and other problems. If you don’t want to give up your high heels, there are some things you can do to minimize the pain and health risks to your feet.
According to a recent survey, nearly three-quarters of all women wear high heels. Of those women, 77 percent wear high heels on special occasions, 50 percent wear them to parties or out to dinner, 33 percent wear them dancing, and 31 percent wear them to work. The number of women who wear high heels daily declined from 1986 (60 percent) to 1996 (50 percent) to 2003 (39 percent). Younger women are more likely to wear high heels daily—49 percent of women aged 18 to 24, 42 percent of women aged 25 to 49, and 34 percent of women aged 50 and over wear heels every day.
(Photo credit: ifundwomen.org)
Another recent industry study showed similar results, with 72 percent of women wearing high heels and 39 percent wearing them daily. Of women wearing high heels, 59 percent reported toe pain and 54 percent reported pain in the ball of the foot.
I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to put my hands on a pair of Jazmine’s shoes and try them out for myself. According to her website, she’s coming out with a new line soon. Be on the lookout!
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