The emphasis on comfort in conventional footwear has grown in recent years, along with the rising trend of pairing trainers with many types of clothing, including business suits. The HLTSystem, a revolutionary footbed unit, is the latest offering from luxury shoemaker Harrys London, and it represents a giant leap forward in shoe comfort. The goal of this innovation is to permanently alter the degree of comfort offered by the brand’s footwear.
Graeme Fidler, Creative Director of Harrys London, and specialists from the Marylebone Health Group (MHG) on Harley Street have worked together for the last eighteen months to create this innovative footbed. Their hard work is now on display in a loafer that Fidler has designed.
Fidler, motivated by an obsession with new ideas, assigned MHG the duty of studying the forces that feet experience while walking in great detail. Fidler fed the results of this study to IIID, a specialized sports design firm. As a result, Harrys London is pleased to offer the HLTSystem footbed.
Aptly titled the Harley, the new loafer is a nod to the street that served as its inspiration. The Downing loafer, a bestseller from the beginning of the Harrys brand, is also an influence. In addition to a state-of-the-art footbed, the Harley loafer also has a newly designed Vibram sole unit that complements the footbed technology to provide unmatched comfort and support.
The unique design’s overarching goal is to improve the health of the entire body. Human walking is a cyclical activity that involves posture, rhythm, balance, and speed. MHG studied this motion by taking an anatomical approach to foot support. The groundwork for an all-encompassing, foot-first strategy to holistic health was laid out by this investigation of the interplay between these variables and foot pressure points.
IIID used MHG’s research to improve the signature Technogel insole—a gel-filled capsule that distributes your weight evenly and cushions your feet from impact—that Harrys use. Because of this, the multi-functional HLTSystem footbed was born. The HLTSystem footbed is made of foam gel and Technogel, with an important layer of air interspersed, unlike standard orthopaedic designs. The end product is an anatomically-based, lightweight footbed that is both ergonomic and comfortable.
An essential part of the Harley loafer is the new Vibram sole, which was developed in-house. It’s a long-lasting rubber compound that’s filled with Vibram foam. The geometric lug sole enhances the shoe’s overall functioning by providing outstanding traction.
Overall, the HLTSystem footbed is a huge step forward in shoe comfort and support, and it’s the newest invention from Harrys London. Harrys London has developed a loafer that is both fashionable and health-conscious by bringing together specialists in the fields of design and research.
