FAQ

When they can walk properly and start discovering the world. As soon as they can walk on their own on surfaces that may be unsafe due to sharp objects, debris or other dangers, such as pavements or playgrounds, shoes are a must. Until then, and even afterwards, they should walk around barefoot as much as possible so that their foot muscles develop to be healthy and strong.

The shoe should provide good support to the foot: height is not important.

Ideally a child should try on a range of different shoes so that the sales person can see and feel which ones offer the best fit. The ankle joint does not have to be protected by a high shoe. Children learn to walk best barefoot, without the protection of shoes, as this trains their muscles.

Leather is a natural product that absorbs and emits moisture. New fabrics when combined with membranes also function very well. Whatever the material, it is essential that the moisture transfer is guaranteed. At RICOSTA we only work with leather and innovative materials that meet this requirement.

Children's feet do not grow consistently but in phases. Children’s feet can grow up to two millimetres per month. This is the equivalent of three to four shoes sizes per year.

The muscular structure of a child's foot needs to be trained. An insole is not sensible in a child's shoe as it provides unnecessary support and prevents muscles from fully developing. 

Yes, when the shoes do not fit.

98% of children are born with healthy feet yet 60% of adults suffer from damaged feet, often a result of badly fitting shoes in childhood.

Children's feet are very soft, and so is the bone structure. In fact, children often do not notice when shoes don’t fit because their foot doesn't actually hurt but adapts to the shoe.

RICOSTA-TEX® is a 100% watertight, windproof and breathable membrane that is inserted between the outer material and the lining.

It is a special membrane that blocks water from getting into the shoe and wicks away moisture that occurs during wear. Watertight and breathable.

With shoes produced according to our WMS system, the warm lining is taken into consideration so winter shoes can also be purchased in the measured size.

No, it is not advisable to wash these shoes in the washing machine as it can stop the flashing function from working. Furthermore, machine washing is not ideal for leather. For these shoes, we recommend using a brush or light soapy water. A water impregnating spray can also be used on the leather.

For models characterised as “washable” we recommend:

30 degrees, mild detergent, and a gentle cycle. Wash shoes in a laundry bag to protect the washing machine drum.

Insoles can be machine washed at 30 degrees with a mild detergent.

In principle shoes with RICOSTA-TEX®, OutDry® or SympaTex® are 100% watertight.

However, impregnating sprays help care for the leather and prevent it becoming fully saturated with water and then hardening. Therefore shoes should be treated repeatedly with these sprays.

Ideally clean the shoe with mild soapy water, freshen up the leather colour with cream for smooth leather or suede, and then treat the leather with an impregnating spray.

These sprays also exist for fabric materials or as combined leather/fabric sprays.

We recommend you have your child's feet measured with a WMS foot-measuring device by an experienced sales person who can advise you. The WMS foot-measuring device measures both the length and width of a child’s foot, accurrately determining the perfect shoe size.

The production of children's shoes is very labour intensive. On average, a pair of shoes has about 80 parts and it takes about 100 work steps to produce them. Plus, only high-quality materials are used.

A child's shoe must be able to withstand in a short period (approx. 6-7 months) what an adult shoe withstands over several years.

No. This is not a good test as a child's natural reflex is to pull in their toes away from the thumb pressure.

It is better to have their feet measured regularly, about every 2 to 3 months, by a child's shoe sales specialist.

One indicator can be the insole. To check simply remove it from the shoe and have the child stand on it.

The problem with shoes that have already been worn is that they are already “moulded” to another child's foot. This transmits something false to the next child and can potentially steer foot development in the direction of the former wearer.

If the shoe shows no signs of wear and tear, and has not been overly worn or stressed, there is no reason why it can’t be worn by another child. However, should the heels be worn down on one side, then it is best not to pass them on. 

The insoles also reveal much about the stress on the shoe: Has the shoe already dug its “own bed”? This is when the imprint of a foot is moulded into the bed of a shoe from being worn extensively.  Outfitting the shoe with a new insole does not fully compensate for this.

If a shoe still looks fresh, then it can be passed on to someone else.

Both have advantages and disadvantages. Shoe laces work well but you have to be able to tie them.

Velco is practical because it is easy for children to fasten and unfasten. However, you must ensure that the child tightens the Velcro sufficiently to secure a good hold.