Bastien Gonzalez unveils BGA Sports InSoles for athletes and sports enthusiasts
Renowned podiatrist has released a new foot product designed to give athletes and sports lovers a competitive advantage
No one said life was going to be easy – and for feet, itcan be quite tough. Covered up in sweaty socks and squeezed into uncomfortable high heels until the return of sandal season, feet seem to be fairly low on our list of priorities.
That is, unless you are Bastien Gonzalez, otherwise known as the “foot virtuoso”.
Gonzalez is the podiatrist-of-choice for many stars and celebrities. He lists the likes of Naomi Campbell, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cate Blanchett among his many big name clients. His “dry” pedicures (so-called because clients don’t have their feet soaked before treatment) are focused on enhancing the overall well-being and health of the foot – so if you’re expecting to get your toes painted during one of these sessions, you’ll be sorely disappointed.
Now, Gonzalez – who introduced his celebrity-endorsed pedicures to Hong Kong through his Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio, which opened in 2012 – has launched a new foot care product, which is endorsed by athletes: the BGA Sports InSoles.
These custom-made slip-in insoles are designed for each individual, providing support for their feet when they are running, jumping, and turning. They promise to deliver optimal performance and ultimate comfort.
The insoles are available in three models: B Infinite, for runners and hikers; B Dynamic, for multi-directional athletes such as footballers or rugby players; and B Reactive, for sports players who need a light bounce in their step, such as badminton or squash players.
These new insoles are crafted for professionals and use materials that target the various zones in the foot. Each pair of soles is made up of three layers and uses ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), a thin micro-perforated material that offers better anti-perspiration protection, overall better fit and supple support.
To create a pair of personalised insoles, you first stand on a Podobarascope and a pressure platform to measure your plantar forces and pressures while standing and walking. Then you hop on a sand-filled mat to measure how your weight is distributed on each foot. Afterwards, the insoles are heated and placed on the foot prints, before being moulded. Et voilà, your own personalised set is ready – with the entire process taking 60 to 90 minutes at most.