Feet Don’t Hurt Me Now!!
In the fairy tale Cinderella, the maid turned princess says, “One shoe can change your life.” If Cinderella had been able to visit Fifth Avenue South’s newest shoe store Leguano, she might have said, “Two shoes can change your health.”
Proud owners of the first Leguano store to open in the United States, Victoria and Gary Weiss, brought the “barefoot brand” from Germany earlier this year to 739 Fifth Avenue South. The shoe concept, designed by a group of German movement experts, is a type of footwear that is not only top-quality and stylish, but allows customers to enjoy the freedom and comfort of being barefoot!
The name "Leguano", which means the lizard iguana in English, reflects the company’s mission, emphasizing the connection to natural movement and to nature, similar to the swift and flexible moves of an iguana, making the shoes perfect for Naples given our abundance of iguanas and beaches.
Leguano GmbH, the privately held parent company, began manufacturing its shoes in 2009 in Buchholz, Germany, just outside Cologne. Each hand-made pair features an exceptionally thin and flexible, but protective sole, which follows the natural shape of your foot. The proprietary sole allows for 360-degree flexibility, adapting seamlessly to any surface, which makes the contact area larger and enhances ground feel and grip.
“We are very proud of our merchandise, but it’s really all about health,” says Victoria. “I’ve been a customer myself for seven years. I love the shoes so much I wanted to bring them to the U.S. They have made a huge difference in my own life. I was suffering from severe spinal problems eight years ago when relatives from Germany brought me a pair when visiting us in New York.”
According to Victoria, she had almost immediate relief. “I didn’t want to have surgery. With the shoes I can now stand on my feet for hours. They have improved my overall health, especially my pain.”
The shoes come in all styles, from walking, running, sandals to fashionable flats for women, and there is also a children’s line called Leguanito, which features a number of styles. Victoria notes, “It is important to teach kids the proper way to walk to prevent problems down the road. Our shoes do that. My own grandson, after wearing his first pair of our shoes, said, ‘Grandma, I never knew shoes could feel so good.’”
The store also has AI technology that helps determine not only your size but potential issues, like pronation, high arches and body weight spread, so Gary and Victoria can help determine the best fit and style for customers. All Leguano shoes are around half the weight of a regular shoe, are machine washable, and come with a two-year guarantee.
Customers include those looking for a change of pace in shoes and who want to experience the barefoot lifestyle, those who suffer from spine, hip or knee problems, and professionals who stand on their feet a lot, including medical, law enforcement, and airline employees.
“In addition to feeling like you are walking barefoot, our shoes, because of the material of the sole, are also protective even from sharp and pointed objects,” says Gary. “It’s all about quality, style, and functionality. These barefoot shoes are German technology. They aren’t made in China like so many others. Our quality control is exceptional, and the fabric is patented. Plus, the sole is made of 100% Lifolit®-lg, a wear-resistant, highly flexible material that allows your feet to move freely, yet protected. It is even used in kids’ shoes and is biodegradable.”
Gary and Victoria immigrated to the U.S. in 1991 and worked for years in the fashion business in New York City, giving them a keen sense of quality and style. They visited Naples for years as tourists and eventually decided it would be the perfect place to open the Leguano store. They made Naples their home for good in 2020.
When asked why they wanted to be on Fifth Avenue South, Gary responded, “We felt our product deserved to be on the best street in Naples. From a business standpoint, we could have been in a plaza or mall, but here on Fifth Avenue South we are among the best of the best in terms of restaurants, galleries, and other merchants.”
Victoria agrees, “I think Fifth Avenue South is the coziest place in Naples. When we were visiting, we would always walk here. It feels like home. You feel pleasure just being here. And you’ll feel even more pleasure when walking on the Avenue in a pair of Leguanos,” she said with a smile.
Leguano will host a grand opening on June 7 at 6:00 PM. Naples’ residents and visitors are invited to attend. Check it out.
Buddha might have said it best, “The foot feels the foot when it feels the ground.”
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