2 weeks Ago
Lems Shoes operating out of Boulder is working to ground and improve the health of its customers — by literally keeping people closer to the ground. Embracing the barefoot lifestyle, Lems sneakers and boots embrace the natural physique of the foot by letting it work as it’s intended, through a wide-toe box design and minimal platform sole. “Unlike shoe companies that invest in cushioning and lifting your heels higher off the ground and shaping shoes based on fashion trends with a narrow tapering toe box, we wanted to shape our shoes around the human form,” said Andrew Rademacher, Lems’ owner and founder.
“It’s about getting your foot closer to the ground as a natural stabilizer — you’re less likely to turn your ankle and face lower chances of leg injuries. Totally flat shoes allow you to have the best posture, taking stress off the knees and lower back.” “People tend to forget about the strength of their own feet; it all starts from the bottom up,” Rademacher continued.
After starting the company in 2011, he moved Lems from Pennsylvania to the Front Range to allow for the company’s mission to be more aligned with its location. While the shoes are manufactured overseas, Lems products are designed and engineered in Colorado to ensure functionality outdoors. “We moved to Colorado because of the access to the outdoors and to test shoes in the mountains across the Front Range,” Rademacher said.
Another focus for Lems’ move to Colorado was to prioritize sustainability through the outdoors culture present in the state. While Lems Shoes embraces sustainability through its minimal design, utilizing fewer materials in the shoe structure, the company also uses recycled materials for some of its products. The Primal Eco lifestyle shoe is made from 50% sustainable materials, for example.
While a Lems brick-and-mortar location is an idea in the making, the company is mainly an online marketplace. However, you can find Lems Shoes at Pedestrian Shops at 1425 Pearl St. in Boulder.
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