Angles Fashion was born in Zlín, a town in the Czech Republic that is strongly intertwined with shoemaking tradition. The desire to produce quality shoes that would fit the natural foot shape of the local Czech population was very strong, so they approached local university to help with the development. The final shape of their lasts is therefore based on the measurements of thousands of feet of the local population.
Today, Angles Fashion is a barefoot brand that has successfully expanded beyond national borders and impresses with its quality craftsmanship and quality materials sourced exclusively from EU countries.
1. General
2. Material characteristics
2.1 Upper
The shoes have elastic material inserted on both sides of the ankle, which makes them more comfortable to walk in and easier to put on, while the material is strong enough to ensure that this stretch is not too big when walking.
What I really like about the Helios is the very clever way in which the pull loop is made. The loop is quite inconspicuous and blends in nicely with the shoe, but it’s also big enough so that putting it on isn’t too difficult.
2.2 Lining
The ‘Winter’ models (which I have) are lined with thicker synthetic wool and have an added waterproof membrane. The insole is made of the same material as the lining. The thickness of the lining provides sufficient thermal insulation in winter conditions when temperatures are around zero or just below zero. For conditions in Central Europe, this amount of insulation will be perfect for most of the winter.
Note that winter models are slightly shorter due to the thicker lining, but also lose some width and volume.
2.3 Sole
The 3 mm thick sole is made of rubber, which is firmer despite its thinness. More force is required to twist the shoe and the sole is harder to fold in the longer direction. Due to its compactness, the sole does not conform as well to the ground as softer soles and therefore does not give as intense ground feel. However, firmer soles tend to be more durable and last longer.
The sole has a lower profile, making it suitable for use in urban environments.
3. Sizing information
3.1 Length
Angles Fashion does not have a universal sizing chart for all models, so please always check the exact internal lengths under each model.
The Helios is available in sizes 37-42 and sizes from 41+ to 46+, where plus sizes indicate wider models. Sizes 41 and 42 are therefore available in two widths.
I wear the Helios in size 42, which has an internal length of 27.9 cm, but the shoes are slightly shorter than this (approx. 2 mm) due to the thicker synthetic lining. This internal length suits me well for my 26.3 cm foot length, but the extra room also gives me enough room for smaller toes that do not have as strong an slope as the Angles Fashion toebox shape.
3.2. Toebox shape & width
The Angles Fashion toebox shape has a stronger slope towards the little toe, so this shape is best suited to foot types 1, 2 and 5. Feet with a squarer foot shape (3,6), which have longer smaller toes, and feet with a distinctly longer second toe (4) combined with a longer third toe, may run out of space for their smaller toes, and Angles fashion shoes may therefore not be the most suitable shoe shape for them.
I have a foot shape 4, but the second toe is only slightly longer than the first, so I have no problem with this shape. The smaller toes do not touch the front part of the shoe when walking.
Helios are best suited for medium to wide feet, but the plus sizes available from size 41 upwards are even wider.
The internal width of size 42 is 10 cm according to the chart, but the shoes feel even roomier and could fit well to feet slightly wider than that too.
3.3. Fit around the instep, heel and ankle
The Helios model is best suited for lower to medium heigh instep. The winter lining reduces this space even further and for my foot type (low instep, skinny ankles) fit in this area is ideal.
The ankle opening is narrower, making the model suitable for skinny ankles. Due to the narrow opening, the model can be tight even for average wide ankles. If you have wider ankles, I recommend you try the other two Chelsea models (Artemis or Diana) where the opening is wider. You can also gain some extra width by choosing an unlined model.
4. Comfort
5. How and when to wear them?
6. Price & where to buy
Angles Fashion shoes can be purchased on the official website and are also available in various stores in Europe. Angles Fashion also has an official website in Czech, where you can find more information on individual models than in the English version.
7. Shipping info
8. To sum up
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