Zappos Is Now Selling Single Shoes and Mixed-Size Pairs
It's all part of its commitment to adaptivity and inclusivity.
As part of its commitment to offering adaptive options for its customers, Zappos is now selling single sneakers and pairs with mixed sizes—which the retailer says is the first program of its kind. For now, the options are available in a test run, but—fingers crossed—if there’s a strong response to the single and different size shoes, Zappos could make them more permanent for shoppers.
In an announcement on Instagram, Zappos said that it decided to create the Single and Different Size Shoe Test Program after feedback from its community. It’s a win for people with disabilities or physical differences that mean they only need one shoe or shoes with varying left and right sizes, including to fit prosthetics. The new program is part of the ongoing Zappos Adaptive extension of Zappos.com.
The goal of Zappos Adaptive is to connect people with products that make getting dressed easier for everyone, its website reads.
“It’s important to us that each and every person has access to clothing, footwear, and accessories that are functional, fashionable, and meet many types of needs.”
Notably, there is no price bump for shopping single sneakers; “one half of the pair is half the price,” the retailer wrote. Currently, there are limited options across the site in the program, but there are big-name brands involved, including Converse, Nike, and New Balance, among a few others. Hopefully, with positive feedback, more brands and styles will become available. You can shop single sneakers across women’s, men’s, and kids’ categories.
Para-athlete, comedian, and writer Josh Sundquist, who partnered with Zappos on the launch, noted that the program is “game-changing.”
“I’m so excited about this program,” he said in a press release. “As an amputee, I’ve never been able to buy a single shoe before, so this is a game-changing moment for amputees and people with disabilities.”
The Zappos website also offers informational videos on how to measure a prosthesis for size using a Brannock device—you know, that metal slider device you used at the shoe store. It also shows you how to measure your foot size at home using a tape measure. Using the videos, you will hopefully be able to better target your sizing so you can online shop effectively.
You can give feedback on the Single and Different Size Shoe Test Program here. More footwear brands and retailers—and the fashion industry as a whole—should take note to offer adaptive and inclusive options so everyone can more comfortably shop for what they need.
