November 8, 2005

The (New) Soft Shoe

You want your new walker to confidently stride through life, even if his steps are a bit wobbly. But it's hard to strut your stuff in shoes that feel as if they're already bronzed. Kids need a little courage to take those first teetering steps.

Slawomir Piwowarczyk, a native of Poland and founder of a small family shoemaking business named Gucio Shoes, has made it his life's mission as a designer to make the perfect first pair of walking shoes for toddlers. And now they're available in the U.S. through Toddler Treads.

Stylish soft leather and wide rubber soles let toddlers flex their little feet and walk freely without all the scary grime a barefoot stroll entails. Piwowarczyk learned his craft in Milan, and started his own company when he couldn't persuade others to manufacture his design. Now he cuts, sews, and dyes each unique pair by hand, using pre-World War II non-electric sewing machines.

They're available in nine vivid colors, like turquoise, heather and ginger, or you can special-order custom combinations. The dyes are nontoxic and applied by hand to only the exterior of the shoe. Seams are on the outside, providing a smooth comfortable interior for your little one's tender feet.

Save the bronzing for when he's outgrown his first pair and make those early steps his most comfortable. After all, a life of surefootedness is bound to follow.

Available online at toddlertreads.com.

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Kidville, NY, Signs $22 Million Deal on Upper West Side (82nd & Columbus)
The UWS Kidville is 20,000 square feet featuring a rooftop playground. Kidville will open for the Spring/Summer Semester on May15th, 2006 with class/camp registration beginning on January 2nd.
Members of Kidville, NY have the opportunity to have their children take an extensive variety of fun and developmental classes like Bach to Rock. Silver Membership is free with enrollment in any class. Families are able to shop at the Kidville Boutique, hang out in the Indoor and Outdoor Playgrounds, or get kids’ haircuts at the Kidville Salon.

To sign up for Winter Classes at the UES 84th & Lexington Kidville call 212-772-8435 or visit www.kidvilleny.com.