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The human body transforms in countless subtle (and not so subtle) ways throughout a pregnancy. The heart rate quickens. The lumbar spine curves to accommodate the baby. And the respiratory rate picks up to deliver more oxygen. One of the lesser-known pregnancy symptoms? Growing feet—a study found that most people’s feet increased in length by 2 and 10 millimeters over the course of a pregnancy. But it’s something track and field Olympian Allyson Felix hopes to draw more attention to—and help address—with her footwear brand Saysh’s new Maternal Returns Policy.
An outspoken advocate for maternal rights and support—she famously, publicly criticized her former sponsor, Nike, for failing to pay its female athletes during maternity leave or give maternity protections—Felix says she personally struggled with growing feet while pregnant. Which is why, in April, the Saysh Maternity Returns Policy, which allows folks who are expecting to trade in their old Saysh shoes for a larger, more comfortable size, went into effect.
“At Saysh, we don’t want our customers to make those sacrifices, especially when it comes to their footwear,” said Lauren Phillips, the brand’s head of product, in a press release. Phillips drafted the policy with Saysh advisor Tiffany Beers. “Tiffany and I were inspired by Allyson’s own pregnancy story and wanted to create an offer that set a precedent, just as Allyson has on and off the track. We hope Saysh can continue to be the catalyst behind this larger movement.”
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The Saysh Maternity Returns Policy is part of a growing trend toward a more female-centric way of looking at women’s footwear. Last month, Lululemon introduced a running shoe expressly designed for women (sneakers usually follow the “shrink it and pink it” model of designing men’s sneakers first, then adapting the fit for women as an afterthought). Adidas made a similar move in late 2021. All of which feel like steps in the right direction.
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