Left to Right: Ayla Rogers, Joe Morrison (Host of 49SAFPOD), Celia Crossett, Laura Oden
We had a blast talking to Joe Morrison, host of the 49SAFPOD on the 8th Floor of City Hall in Anchorage, Alaska. The 49SAFPOD highlights entrepreneurship and economic development topics in the 49th State. Yeah, that'd be us. We got a chance to talk about how Pandere Shoes was born and where we're headed. Joe gets us to explain how three people who knew nothing about shoes or shoe design managed to get this company off the ground. We hope you will listen.ANCHORAGE (KTUU) - Getting a business idea off the ground and turning it into a successful product is no easy task, but one Alaskan company, Pandere Shoes, was able to do just that.
They started by identifying a problem.
“I've had difficulty finding shoes to fit my feet for the last 40 years, because I have a medical condition called lymphedema, so one foot is chronically swollen," said Pandere CEO Laura Oden.
Like many others living with lower limb lymphedema, I struggle when it comes to footwear. Most of my swelling is in my right foot and ankle, so finding a shoe that comfortably fits is a challenge. And finding a shoe that’s stylish, too? Forget it.
I’m always on the lookout for lymphie-friendly footwear, so when my friends at Pandere reached out to me asking if I’d be interested in trying their latest style on for size, I was ecstatic.
The Foot Freedom Almanac’s Guide to Buying Shoes for Wide Feet
As much as 72 percent of people don’t wear shoes that are wide enough or long enough for their feet. The same 2018 study, published in the Journal of Foot and Ankle Research, found substantial evidence demonstrating that ill-fitting shoes are associated with foot pain and a number of foot disorders. Do you have wide feet?
Pandere shoes accommodate swelling and other foot conditions. Our patent pending design allows expansion up to an E width. The unanchored toe box and ankle expansion make our shoes perfect for those who can't fit into off the rack shoes.
Half sizes: We don't offer half sizes at this time. If you have swelling or any other medical condition, we recommend you round a size up. For example, if you normally wear an 8.5, order a 9.
