Daily Mail fashion editor Hannah Skelley on Saturday recommended a range of footwear brands catering to shoppers with broad feet, wide calves or bunions, highlighting both high-street and specialist labels that combine comfort features with contemporary styling.
Skelley’s roundup, published Sept. 13, 2025, cites designs that prioritise room in the toe box, hidden stretch panels and bespoke measurement services, and draws attention to manufacturers using new production methods and recycled materials.
One of the brands Skelley singled out is Vivaia, a Chinese label that uses 3D-printing technology to turn recycled plastic bottles into knitted shoe uppers. The editor noted the company’s forgiving knitted styles and extra-grippy soles, which the piece said make them suitable for people who struggle with bunions. The roundup added that celebrities including Katie Holmes and Bella Hadid have been spotted wearing the brand.
London-based Esska was recommended for shoppers seeking playful designs with cushioning and arch support. Esska, which has produced footwear for nearly two decades, is known for soft insoles and padding that the article said accommodate splayed feet. Skelley identified the mid-height platform sandal as a durable occasion option and singled out the label’s festive flats selection.
Mainstream high-street options were also included. Marks & Spencer’s Wide Fit range was presented as a broad and affordable offering, covering styles from boots and ballet flats to mules and boat shoes. Lisa Illis, head of womenswear design at M&S, was quoted as saying the brand aims to give customers “the extra room that standard footwear often lacks, with hidden elastic inserts and zips that handle real stretch.” The article noted that many items in the range retail for less than £50.
For shoppers who require larger calf measurements or struggle with boot zips, the roundup recommended Duoboots, a Bath-based label that produces custom-fit boots from buyer measurements. Mary Alice Malone, the company’s chief brand director, said the process is straightforward and that wide-calf boots are crafted using “your precise measurements.” The piece described the service as a cost-effective bespoke solution, observing that custom pairs generally cost under £300.
Sole Bliss, a British brand frequently seen on red carpets, was mentioned for evening shoes with roomy toe boxes and layered cushioning. Founder Lisa Kay told the Daily Mail that the company’s designs feature “disguised depth to accommodate wider feet, along with three layers of memory foam cushioning to protect and comfort your soles, plus a hidden stretch panel to cushion and conceal bunions or difficult joints.” The article pointed to the brand’s appeal among public figures, including Dame Helen Mirren, Julia Roberts and Queen Camilla.
The coverage reflects a growing market focus on inclusive sizing and comfort-led design in footwear, at both specialist and mass-market price points. Industry observers and designers have in recent seasons placed renewed emphasis on ergonomics, stretch panels and adjustable features to meet demand from consumers who previously struggled to find fashionable options that fit.
Skelley’s selection offers a cross-section of strategies: sustainable knit constructions that add give, long-established padding and arch support, high-street ranges that expand width availability, bespoke measurement services for atypical calves, and red-carpet-conscious brands that integrate concealed comfort features. Readers seeking the specific models and shopping details were directed to the brands’ websites for availability and pricing information.