A properly fitting pair of shoes can change daily experiences, and Musinsa is enhancing a program focused on achieving this for those with mobility disabilities by increasing the number of custom orthopedic shoes it will offer this year.
The fashion platform announced it will aid 20 beneficiaries through its MUVE project, double the number from last year, in collaboration with the Seongdong District Office and the Miral Welfare Foundation.
The program offers tailored orthopedic shoes for individuals unable to wear off-the-shelf footwear due to congenital or acquired foot deformities, reduced foot functionality, or variations in leg length.
Every pair is custom-made with precise measurements and handcrafted techniques to align with the specific physical requirements of the recipient. Musinsa announced that it has completely financed the program annually through a public-private partnership initiated in 2024 to assist individuals unable to afford the expensive custom orthopedic shoes.
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The company is collaborating with Haram Workshop, a specialized orthopedic shoe producer in Seongsu-dong's handmade shoe area, as part of its initiative to assist local small enterprises while enhancing community welfare. The initial application phase began in April, resulting in the selection of 10 recipients from the Seoul metropolitan region, including individuals from school-age children to senior citizens.
The firm announced that comprehensive foot measurements and gait analysis have been finalized, and manufacturing has begun, with all footwear expected to arrive by the end of July.
A caretaker of a 10-year-old recipient stated that the child faces significant walking challenges due to a shortened Achilles tendon and extreme flat feet, restricting daily activities, such as school life. The guardian expressed hope that the personalized shoes will enable the child to experience typical outings and family excursions with greater ease.
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A woman in her 60s chosen for the program stated that the expensive replacement of her old corrective shoes made her restrict outdoor activities due to ongoing pain and the danger of falling. Musinsa announced its intention to start accepting applications for the program’s second round in August, following the completion of the first production cycle later this month.
Earlier, international visitors flooded Musinsa outlets throughout Korea during the concurrent Japanese Golden Week and China’s Labor Day celebrations, transforming the fashion retailer’s physical stores into some of the most popular shopping spots in Seoul.
Musinsa, the Korean fashion unicorn representing Seoul’s street style, announced on Friday that sales from international customers at 12 globally focused offline stores increased over 30 percent during the weeklong holiday from April 29 to May 4, in comparison to the week before.
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The firm examined shops functioning in key retail areas such as Seongsu, Hongdae, Myeong-dong, Gangnam, Hannam, and the Seomyeon district of Busan. The most significant growth occurred in Seongsu, where throngs of international visitors flocked to Musinsa Standard Seongsu and Musinsa Store Seongsu. Total sales at both sites increased by over 41 percent compared to the previous week, the company announced.