It is said that if you have to find out about the status of a person you need to take a look at their shoes. Since we put our entire weight on our feet, we need to make sure that our feet have the comfiest shoes. Our shoes not only make us look well-dressed but also provide us with balance to walk and complete our daily schedule. So, it is important that we wear shoes that are the perfect fit for our feet.
In this article, we will focus on how you can take measurements of your feet. We have also worked on the shoe size in India and how the measurement parameters are evolving.
Why should you measure your feet accurately?
It might be possible that your back pain may be caused by a misfit in your shoe size. The wrong shoe size can cause blisters, pain, and calluses. Both too-tight and too-loose shoes can cause excessive pressure on the toes and impact your overall foot health and gait.
How do you measure your feet accurately?
To measure your feet accurately, you will need a couple of things:
1. A measuring tape
2. A marker pen
3. 2 sheets of plain white paper
First, place your foot on a sheet of paper. Next try and flatten your foot by shifting your weight forward. Use the marker to draw your foot shape. Next place your other foot on other paper and take a trace. Measure your foot size between your longest finger and the bottom of your heel. But wait, that is not all. What about the width of your feet?
After measuring the length and width (in inches), subtract both the numbers by 3/16th. If your shoe size falls between two sizes, choose the one on the higher side as it will be a better fit and comfort.
Shoe size in India
In the case of women,
A 36-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 4.
A 37-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 4.5.
A 38-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 5.5.
A 39-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 6.5.
A 40-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 7.5.
A 41-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 8.5.
A 42-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 9.
In the case of men,
A 40-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 6.
A 41-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 7.
A 42-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 8.
A 43-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 9.
A 44-shoe size in India refers to Euro standards and, in the UK, the same is equal to size 10.
In India, men and women on average have shoe sizes 7/8 and 5/6 respectively. There is also a difference between size of shoes and sandals. As shoes are closed in the front and sandals are open, hence there might be a slight difference in their size for the same person.
Also Read: How to Wear and History behind Gladiator Sandals
What is the buzz about the Bha shoe sizing system?
Indians have always been trying to fit in their shoes according to the size guidelines by the UK and US standards. And since we only measure the length of our feet and not the width, our shoes have always felt a bit uncomfortable. Hence, CLRI (Central Leather Research Institute) has developed “Bha” which is named after Bharat. The credit goes to K J Sreeram, who is the director of CLRI.
A pan-India survey that divided India into five zones and 79 locations was surveyed using 24 parameters. A sample size of approx. 1,01,880 people were used for this research. The most unique thing about the Bha shoe sizing system is that it not only measures length but also includes width.
Shoe size in India according to Bha
| Shoe size | Category | Age group |
| I | Infants | 0-1 year |
| II | Babies | 1-3 years |
| III | Small children | 4-6 years |
| IV | Children | 7-11 years |
| V | Girls | 12-13 years |
| VI | Boys | 12-14 years |
| VII | Women | 14 years and above |
| VIII | Men | 15 years and above |
The width codes are denoted as 4A, 3A, 2A, etc. Extra allowance has been added for each size so that it includes the growing feet of infants. Also, this allowance also includes sizes for women and men.
Benefits of Bha Shoe Size in India
There are a couple of benefits that we Indians might get from the new shoe sizing system:
1. Comfort
Since the shoes are designed specially for Indian feet, the shoes will be more comfortable.
2. Foot Health
Comfortable shoes will promote better foot health and it will benefit especially growing feet.
3. Variety
More variety of shoes and sandals will be available as there will be choice according to both length and width criteria.
4. Manufacturing boost
Since there will be a standardized sizing system, manufacturing costs will be reduced and production will be streamlined.
To conclude, Indians are moving forward to a world where they will have their own shoe-sizing system. This system will not only help us to find more comfortable shoes but also instill a sense of pride in us for having a unique sizing system for us. We hope this article will help you to understand how you can easily measure your foot size. So, go ahead and try on your next pair of shoes. Be ready to walk across the world looking stylish and feeling comfortable.
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