17 terms

Glossary

Terminology around ara shoes — alphabetical. Look it up whenever a term comes up in a customer conversation.

Brand world

Substantiated claim Substantiated Claim · EU-Empowering-Consumers · EMPCO: Claims about environmental, social or durability characteristics must be substantiated in the same medium with testing body, test scope and date (EU Directive 2024/825, "Empowering Consumers"). Claims without evidence are subject to warnings and injunctions from 27 September 2026 onwards.
Direct injection process Direktansatz · Anspritzverfahren: Manufacturing process where the sole is moulded directly onto the upper in a single step — no stitching or glue.
Unforgettably comfortable Markenversprechen · ara-Versprechen: ara's central comfort promise. Stands for all-day wearing comfort that you remember from first step to end of day.

Width F Weite F · F½: ara's narrowest width (F½). For narrowly built feet — the shoe sits close and guides securely.
Width G Weite G: ara's standard width. Fits most feet — an average foot is usually a G.
Width H Weite H: One step wider than the standard G. For customers with slightly broader feet without medical indication.
Width K Weite K · K-Schuh: The widest of the ara widths — suited for hard-working feet, hallux valgus or diabetes.
Multi-width system Multi-Weite: ara's concept of offering the same shoe in multiple widths — so size and width fit independently.
Removable insole Wechselfußbetten · Wechselsohle: A removable insole. Can be aired, replaced, or swapped for a custom orthopaedic insert.

FusionStretch: Stretch zone in the forefoot area that gives way where the foot is wider and returns to shape. Solution for hallux valgus and broad forefeet.
HighSoft: ara comfort technology for elegant shoes: soft upper, cushioned insole, ball-of-foot cushioning — pumps with sneaker comfort.
TPU heel spoon Fersenlöffel · TPU-Löffel: A flexible, smooth stiffener in the heel area. Helps the foot slip in and then keeps the heel secure.
easy2Go Easy2Go · Easy 2 Go: ara comfort system for easy on/off without a shoehorn — TPU heel spoon plus flexible zones in the upper.

Hallux Valgus Hallux · Großzehenballen: Sideways drift of the big toe. A very common foot deformity — strongly limits shoe choice because the forefoot becomes broader.
Forefoot area Vorfuß · Ballenbereich: The front of the foot — toe joints, ball and toes. The most critical zone in most problem shoes.

Regenerated fibre Regenerierte Faser · Chemiefaser aus Zellulose: Umbrella term for fibres chemically produced from natural raw materials. Examples: viscose, modal, lyocell. Not to be confused with natural fibres (cotton, wool, linen).
Viscose Viskosefaser · Bambus · Bamboo: Cellulose fibre chemically regenerated from plant-based raw materials (e.g. beech, bamboo or eucalyptus pulp). Labelled as "viscose" per textile-labelling rules — even when the source material is bamboo.