A recent survey of over 100,000 Indians showed that their feet are generally wider than those in Europe and America. Seemingly many Indians wear shoes that are too big or don't fit well. To address this, the new 'Bha' shoe sizing system will offer 8 sizes for different age groups, aiming to fit 85% of Indians better.
The study found that Indian women's feet typically stop growing around age 11, while men's feet peak around 15 or 16 years old. The sizes will be:
I – Infants (0-1 year) II – Toddlers (1-3 years) III – Small children (4-6 years) IV – Children (7-11 years) V – Girls (12-13 years) VI – Boys (12-14 years) VII – Women (14 years and above) VIII – Men (15 years and above)
This study was conducted by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) with the Central Leather Research Institute (CLRI) in Chennai. ‘Bha’ is expected to replace the existing UK, EU and US sizing systems by 2025, as per a report by Hindustan Times.