Wearing the proper footwear is crucial to a child’s development. The early years, when a child progresses from crawling to walking to running, are vital to developing the strength of the foot’s arch, muscles and ligaments, and contribute to good posture.

Bibi, the first children’s footwear company certified by the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics and Orthopedics and the Brazilian Association of Medicine and Surgery of the Foot, has engineered an exclusive technology that stimulates the natural development of a child’s feet. It developed shoes that mimic the freedom, comfort and lightness of a barefoot stride.

“It’s made of genuine leather,” said Joanna Co, Bibi marketing manager. “The sole has a suction that will stimulate your child’s feet. Bibi recognizes the importance of walking barefoot.”

Regular shoes have the tendency to restrict movement and can be a source of discomfort to children. Bibi shoes take physiology into consideration, producing pairs scientifically designed for growing feet.

With Fisioflex technology, every shoe has an antimicrobial leather insole, automatically adjusts to the foot anatomy, has a flexible support system that distributes pressure and activates neurological functions, and aids in the absorption and desorption of sweat, keeping the feet dry.

Feeling the ground

With the exclusive system of impact absorption, there is a distribution of the feet’s support points. The child can feel the ground with all its textures and irregularities, stimulating neural functions and healthy growth.

For instance, from 10 months to over a year old, when a child begins to discover the world through his/her feet—from crawling and standing to first steps—shoes are designed to be light and flexible, allowing more freedom and movement, without tightening or restricting the natural growth of the feet.

Kids 2 to 4 years old have rapidly developing bone and muscle structure. This is when foot development contributes to the correct formation of legs, hence footwear is flexible but sturdy. The sole has a nonskid technology.

At 4 to 7 years old, children are highly active and become independent. Light and flexible shoe materials with nonskid soles must match the demands of their foot movement.

“It’s a 68-year-old Brazilian shoe brand that’s popular in Singapore, South America, and Hong Kong. Most moms want the best for their kids, so we want to provide them that option,” Co said.

Shoes are also made with sustainable, nontoxic materials, making Bibi shoes the first Brazilian footwear brand to receive the Sustainable Origin Silver Seal. Together with the Brazilian Institute of Technology for Leather, Footwear and Related Products, Bibi monitors all the materials incorporated in its products and only uses those that comply with international regulations for toxic substances.

Bibi shoes are available at Rustan’s Makati and Rustan’s Shangri-La Plaza, and will soon be available at
Playground stores in TriNoma and Glorietta, and online at www.bibiphilippines.com.