A Plead for More Companies to Follow in Nordstrom’s Footsteps
As a girl with right-sided cerebral palsy, my relationship with footwear is not the best. Since I was about ten, my feet have differed in size by about one-half to one size. This, among a host of other complications, makes shoe shopping one of my least favorite pastimes. While I can get by in the same size when buying shoes with laces, dress shoes are another story. If I want shoes that fit both feet, the only option is to buy two pairs of shoes, something that is cumbersome, wasteful, and not always economically feasible.
Shoe size differences in Americans are surprisingly common, yet an internet search only turned up a handful of companies that respond to the need for two different sized shoes. The most inclusive policy by far belongs to Nordstrom’s Split Shoe Service, the only policy that offers two different sized shoes at the same exact price as a pair of the same sized shoes.
This split shoe service has been widely praised by the disability community as a step towards true inclusivity in the fashion industry. As an added benefit, any sales representative in the shoe departments of Nordstrom stores are aware of the policy and will go to great lengths to ensure individual customer satisfaction.
However, the policy has specifications that needlessly limits the customers that qualify. To qualify for the program, a person must have at least a one and a half size difference, a one size difference and one-width difference, or a two-width difference. This means that for me, who can usually fit into half a size difference, I cannot use the special service.
When I first found out about the split shoe service, I was ecstatic. After being told by a sales representative that my shoe size difference could not be accommodated under the policy, however, I was crushed. I have to ask why Nordstrom would only extend their policy towards relatively big shoe size differences. Certainly, it couldn’t make that big of a difference for production or inventory if they allowed half size shoe differences to qualify, right?
While I applaud Nordstrom for their step towards inclusivity, I think that the company should accommodate all shoe size differences, regardless of if it’s a half size difference or a one and a half size difference. If I find myself unable to qualify, there must be thousands more in my position across the US who must resign themselves to continuing to pay for two different pairs of shoes, something that is often not economically feasible.
Shoes are not just a frivolous accessory to an outfit. Certain types of shoes are expected or required for certain careers. Having to buy two pairs of shoes poses an unsurmountable barrier to some people with disabilities from going into those career fields. With an unemployment rate of nearly 70%, the disability community doesn’t need any more unnecessary barriers to prevent them from being hired by companies.
I have aspirations to go into a career field that requires dress shoes. The barriers posed by my different sized feet are unlikely to go away anytime soon, but I hope to see movement over my lifetime as more companies strive to become truly inclusive of all disabilities in their policies.
At the end of the day, everyone deserves an affordable option for shoes that fit.
Written by Ryan Trombly
Ryan Trombly was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when she was eighteen months old. The disability causes right-side hemiparesis that affects the entire right side of her body, weakening her muscles and limiting her mobility in everyday activities. Despite this, Ryan has strived to live an independent life without any barriers and hopes to use her voice to advocate for the disability community.
Interested in Using Nordstrom’s Split-Shoe Services? Check Out https://www.nordstrom.com/browse/customer-service/single-split-shoe
Comentarios