From CK Nayak
NEW DELHI, Feb 21: The British have left India more than seven decades ago. But we still follow their foot print, quite literally.
It is an irony that India still has no “Footwear Sizing System” of its own and it follows the English size introduced by the British before Independence.
According to the UK footwear sizing system, the average Indian man wears sizes between five to 11 and the average woman between four and six.
But here again as the adage goes, one size does not fit all, and Indians must understand the importance of right fits, experts say.
But this is not going to be an easy task, considering the vastness and regional variations in India.
There is a general observation that people from the North East have comparatively smaller feet.
Earlier, National Family Health Survey had shown that the height of Indians, both men and women, specifically in Meghalaya and some other Northeastern states, is short and has been decreasing over the years while it has been increasing in many other parts of the world.
In all probability, there could be a solution to this by next year as India could have its own ‘Footwear Sizing System’. This is because CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) is conducting a first-of-its-kind pan-India anthropometric survey which will include feet measurement and 3D foot scans. The project will begin later this year and will continue for 14 months.
The data collected from this survey will be used to define footwear size standards in India. It will then be included by shoe manufacturers in their size.
The department for promotion of industry and internal trade under the Union ministry of commerce is supporting CLRI in conducting the survey. Data will be collected and based on that a size range for the Indian population will be established.
According to KJ Sreeram, director, CSIR-CLRI, there is a plan to take the help of a network of ASHA workers to conduct this survey, which is estimated to cost Rs 11 crore.
Around 1, 05,000 samples will be collected from around 94 districts and 3D feet scanner machines will be used in the survey and 30 of them have been imported from Italy.
The scanner can capture about 30 dimensions of the foot within just 10 seconds.
CLRI has already started training its staff and those who are collaborating from institutes like the National Institute of Fashion Technology, Central Footwear Training Institute and Footwear Design and Development Institute.
CLRI officials feel that such anthropometric surveys may be required every seven to eight years considering fast-changing lifestyles and footwear requirements.
The scheme was inaugurated in January and Union minister for Health and Science and Technology Dr Harsh Vardhan was the first Indian to present his feet sample.
There are many people who are often confused over the ‘EU’, ‘UK’ or ‘US’ sizes while buying shoes, especially online. Shoe manufacturers have been making footwear according to this size and mention equivalent American and European sizes.
Indian sizing system is a prerequisite as only appropriately-sized footwear can provide optimal comfort and foot health. Moreover, oversized or undersized shoes can lead to injuries, especially in cases of diabetics.
As designing footwear is a complex process requiring a lot of expertise, one designed on a borrowed size may not be best suited for the Indian wearer. This is because feet characteristics of Indians are different from that of Americans or Europeans.
In India, in general, forward caste men are the tallest and scheduled caste and scheduled tribe men the shortest.
Also as height and size of the feet are mostly related, Indians prefer a size bigger than required because they have broader feet near the toes.
Interestingly, the characteristics of Indian feet have also changed since 1969 when the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) notified the Indian Standard Specification for Sizes and Fitting of Footwear.
“Also, shoes have now gained popularity and importance among people and demand for footwear too has increased,” Sreeram said.