The most comfortable shoe in the world? We like to think so…
The Harley loafer has been scientifically proven to reduce and protect against everyday foot pain by decreasing pressure on the injury-prone second toe joint and heel of the feet by up to 400%.
It is the first of our shoes to feature our revolutionary new 3 6 T footbed, which was developed on Harley Street, London’s world-famous centre of medical expertise.
Designed to benefit the wellbeing of the whole body
We asked Ron McCullough, the director of the London Podiatry Centre - the UK’s pre-eminent foot specialist clinic, which numbers the England football team, Arsenal FC, a number of other Premier League clubs and many elite athletes among its clients - to put Harley to the test.
Mr McCulloch concluded:
“The key thing about the Harley shoe is that it offers significantly more shock absorption compared to other types of shoe on the market.
“Forefoot pressures went down from about 400 kilopascals in a standard all-leather loafer to about 100 kilopascals in the Harley. Heel pressures went down from 800 kilopascals to 200.
“The shoe could potentially be very valuable for people who suffer from foot or heel pain or are likely to develop either as a consequence of their foot structures.”
Work on the Harley started over three years ago when we enlisted the leading Harley Street-based sports physiotherapy practitioners Marylebone Health Group (MHG) to help develop an anatomical approach to foot support.
“By collaborating with Harrys, we’ve applied the latest in biomechanics and sports science to create footwear that doesn’t just look exceptional, but actively enhances the way people move and feel.” James Moore, founder & Clinical Director, Marylebone Health Group
MHG studied how the sinusoidal motion of human walking – the cyclical movement that encompasses posture, rhythm, balance and speed – interacts with the pressure points of the feet to arrive at a blueprint for a feet-first approach to body wellbeing.
The first time that sports science has been applied to a formal shoe.
We then commissioned leading sports design studio IIID to apply MHG’s findings to our standard Technogel insole. IIID integrated additional elements: foam gel for additional cushioning, an interspersing layer of air for breathability and responsiveness and featherweight carbon strips at the heel and ball of the feet for enhanced stability.
The resulting 3 6 T footbed was then paired with a new in-house designed bi-compound Vibram sole to complete the comfort experience. And so, with the addition of an elegant, perfectly clean-lined upper, the Harley was born...
The first edition of the Harley loafer is available now in sleek, short-napped dark brown and dark bark velvet suede. Further editions in deerskin, water-repellent Aquasuede, soft calf leather, City calf leather and nappa suede will arrive in-store and online soon.
Footwear That Feels As Good As it Looks
