Business helps the vertically challenged walk taller
WalkTall Shoes.
Shehzad Piyarali with WalkTall shoes that enhance height and are sold on the internet and locally in Sheridan Centre's Star Shoe Store.
Staff photo by Rob Beintema
Should John McCain lose the U.S. presidential election to Barack Obama in November, he can justifiably lay part of the blame on his height.
That’s because shorter political leaders are rarely elected, and at 5-foot-7 McCain is towered over by Obama, who’s a shade over 6-foot.
But politicians aren’t the only ones discriminated against because they’re vertically challenged. Taller men get more promotions than shorter men. And women often avoid dating shorter guys.
These might sound like myths, but if you’re shorter than the average male, you know they’re true.
You can’t make yourself taller, and society’s prejudices aren’t going to change — so what to do?
A Mississauga company might have the solution.
A few years ago, Akbar Pirani and Shehzad Piyarali founded WalkTall Shoes to cater to a market of men who want to enhance their appearance by walking tall.
They began by selling on eBay, then selling full-time through their website (www.WalkTallShoes.com).
Pirani is 5-foot-6, but when he wears WalkTall Shoes, he appears to be of average height.
He attributes the shoes to him getting, well, his foot in the door with his wife. He was wearing them when he first met her.
“She jokes that she may not have dated me had I appeared to be a couple inches shorter,” said Pirani.
When the Karachi native immigrated to Canada in 2003, he didn’t have much success landing a job.
“I’ve no doubt it was partly because of my height. The average man in North America is 5-foot-9, and if your height falls below standard, some people will look at you differently,” he said.
Pirani started wearing height-enhancing shoes, but found those on the market too heavy for comfort.
Then he remembered that his home country was renowned for its leather work, especially for making quality shoes. It’s a bit of a secret, he says, but many brand-name Italian shoes are manufactured in Pakistan.
After researching on the internet, Pirani found the manufacturer he needed. His first order was for only 60 pairs, which he sold part-time on eBay. He began selling via the internet, and business has taken off. Pirani brought on Piyarali as a partner, and the pair set up a shipping facility in Mississauga. Their products are also available at Star Shoes in the Sheridan Centre and in Rockwood Mall.
You might think the shoes look funny or embarrassing, but they actually look completely normal.
“They aren’t like shoe lifts that you slip into your regular shoes,” Pirani said. “WalkTalls are unique because they have been specially designed to enhance height from the inside, while leaving enough space for your feet to walk comfortably — an important factor in a good shoe.”
Most of WalkTall’s shoes enhance height by 2.5 to 2.75 inches. This gives the optimum balance between comfort level, a non-bulky design and a reasonable height increase.
“When shoes are enhanced by over 2.75 inches, comfort and design will be somewhat compromised,” said Pirani.
Although the shoes help many shorter men achieve a more average height, Pirani says the majority of WalkTall’s customers are actually average or above average height.
“Gaining an extra couple inches gives men extra confidence or makes them appear more of a leader, especially in corporate or political situations,” he said.
“They don’t change who you are, but they change how you appear to others. They allow people to see past your height, so that any prejudices or misconceptions don’t get in the way of someone getting to know you.”
jchin@mississauga.net