A complete survey carried out throughout India has revealed the need for a new footwear sizing system tailor-made particularly for Indians. Dubbed ‘Bha’ (भ), representing Bharat, this proposed system goals to change the present UK/European and US sizing conventions. The survey, spanning from December 2021 to March 2022, concerned 3D foot scanning of over 1,00,000 people throughout 79 places, shedding gentle on essential insights into the foot measurement, dimensions, and construction of the typical Indian foot.
Understanding Indian ft
Contrary to preliminary assumptions, the survey discovered that Indian ft have a tendency to be wider than their European or American counterparts. It additionally highlighted discrepancies within the match of present footwear, main many Indians to put on ill-fitted or outsized footwear, which may end up in discomfort, accidents, and compromised foot well being. These points are notably pronounced amongst aged girls and people with diabetes.
Proposed system and business affect
‘Bha’ proposes a streamlined method with eight footwear sizes catering to varied age teams, guaranteeing a greater match for roughly 85% of the Indian inhabitants. This system is anticipated to simplify manufacturing processes for footwear corporations, eliminating the need for half-sizes and lowering the general variety of sizes required. Additionally, the proposed sizes will provide enhanced consolation, with wider dimensions and an extra 5mm foot size allowance.
Road to implementation
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Central Leather Research Institute (CSIR–CLRI) spearheaded the survey and submitted its suggestions to the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), which forwarded them to the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) for approval. To guarantee efficacy, footwear manufactured below the ‘Bha’ requirements will endure trial testing and consumer suggestions periods. The proposed system is slated for implementation by 2025, promising a transformative change within the Indian footwear business.
