Massachusetts Footwear Maker akesso® Focuses on Safety and Performance for Those Working in the Healthcare Environment

Massachusetts Footwear Maker akesso® Focuses on Safety and Performance for Those Working in the Healthcare Environment


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SALEM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 27, 2014--Most nurses and healthcare professionals wear athletic shoes or clogs that were actually made for other primary purposes. They might wear a sneaker for comfort and performance, forgoing ease. Or, they might wear a slip-on clog, forgoing lightweight flexibility and comfort. Either choice represents a compromise. Until now, healthcare providers could not find a high-performing shoe designed precisely for their work and careers.

Now available, the Helia model exemplifies akesso's combination of the ease of a clog with the performance of an athletic shoe. akesso creates shoes specifically for safety and performance in healthcare environments. Designed for nurses and other healthcare providers, these fashion-forward shoes offer slip resistance, all-day comfort and support, and are easy to clean. Photo courtesy akesso professional footwear.

Recognizing an unmet need, innovative shoemaker, akesso ®, designed and built a line of shoes specifically for nurses and other healthcare professionals. The physical demands of their jobs, and the sometimes-hazardous conditions of their work environments, have been carefully considered in the design and fabrication of this fashion-forward footwear. akesso ® shoes combine safety features, comfort and performance for those who akesso ® CEO and founder, Bruce Todtfeld, calls “athletes in scrubs.”

“There is a long list of healthcare providers who have been underserved by their shoes,” explains Todtfeld. “Nurses, doctors, aides, dental professionals, technicians … they all work in a field plagued by musculoskeletal disorders, injury and exposure. Imagine the pounding their feet take. Recognizing the physical stress of their jobs, and seeing the inadequate footwear many choose, we knew we could build a more functional product to meet the needs of healthcare professionals.”

From the top, their contamination-resistant uppers, to the bottom, their slip-resistant soles, akesso ® shoes meet healthcare providers where they work. “They’re on their feet 10-12 hours a day, so akesso ® is constructed to provide support, flexibility and comfort with a thick, contoured footbed, lightweight materials and a secure fit. They come in contact with unexpected spills, some hazardous, so we’ve used waterproof leathers that resist contamination and clean up very easily. And, they never know what they’re walking into, so we’ve given akesso ® shoes slip-resistant soles to provide superior traction on wet and dry surfaces. We’ve actually thought about a day in the life of healthcare professionals and created shoes that will help support them through it.”

Todtfeld is no stranger to occupational footwear, having lead the dramatic growth of Timberland’s classic boot business, Todtfeld developed and launched Timberland Pro, a boot built for protection under demanding working conditions. He also repositioned Sperry’s Top-Sider line, shoes created specifically for providing more secure traction for boaters. “My career and life experiences convinced me that I could create a better footwear solution for the folks on the frontlines of healthcare.”

akesso ® shoes are now available in women’s sizes and in various styles at select Work ‘N Gear retail locations throughout Massachusetts and the Northeast, online at www.workngear.com, and directly through www.akesso.com.

ABOUT AKESSO ®

akesso ® professional footwear, a Massachusetts-based company, designs and manufactures specialized footwear for the “athlete in scrubs,” today’s healthcare professional. akesso ® shoes provide comfort for those on their feet all day, and safety for those who work where slips, trips, falls and contamination are daily hazards. akesso ® shoes blend function and fashion.

For more information visit akesso ® at www.akesso.com

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available:http://www.businesswire.com/multimedia/home/20140327005176/en/

CONTACT: Press:

akesso

Alison Becker, 781-254-5983

alison@akesso.com

KEYWORD: UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA MASSACHUSETTS

INDUSTRY KEYWORD: DEPARTMENT STORES ONLINE RETAIL HEALTH HOSPITALS RETAIL FASHION SPECIALTY NURSING GENERAL HEALTH

SOURCE: akesso

Copyright Business Wire 2014

PUB: 03/27/2014 08:00 AM/DISC: 03/27/2014 08:00 AM

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140327005176/en

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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