Behind the Scenes at Attipas HQ
By Attipas Australia's founder and mum-of-three, Caroline Africh
Behind the Scenes at Attipas HQ
Ever wondered what goes on at Attipas HQ? From baby shoe designing to manufacturing, quality control, re-packing and more, here's a sneak peek into what happens on a daily basis at our Korean counterpart's facility in Busan, South Korea:
1. Design: A great deal of thought and creative flair goes into the design process at Attipas HQ. Ideas around next season's baby shoes are generated from a variety of sources including European trade events, local Korean inspiration and suggestions from international distributors. New Attipas designs are hand-drawn first, then transformed to digital graphics, after which they are forwarded to the manufacturing team for sampling then creation.
2. Manufacturing: After new designs have been sampled and approved, full scale manufacturing occurs. Attipas shoes are a shoe-sock hybrid, so firstly the cotton blend socks are manufactured separately and then they are attached to the sole via a mould/injection process. The soles are made from a material called thermoplastic rubber (TPR), which is non toxic and gives Attipas baby shoes their amazing grip.
3. Quality Control: The quality control team inspect the shoes after the mold has set and shoes are considered complete. Strict quality control activities are undertaken in order to ensure that shoes are safe for babies to wear, superior in quality and adhere to national and international guidelines. Attipas shoes are non toxic and considered safe for babies; they don't use any harmful chemicals such as formaldehyde.
4. Packing: After quality control has been completed, workers commence the packing process of the shoes. Shoes are packaged in a variety of boxes as requested by international distributors. In Australia we utilise the premium box due it's slim cardboard design and limited plastic content. Every little bit towards the war on waste counts! Each pair of Attipas shoes are manually packed into packages before being sealed and ready to ship.
5. Sales: The lovely Korean team liaise with international distributors on a frequent basis to ensure their orders are fulfilled in a timely manner. They also coordinate the collection and shipping of international freight, as well as general training for their foreign distributors on a regular basis.
Are you struggling to get shoes on your baby?
The whole idea behind Attipas baby shoes is that less is more. Goodbye to heavy shoes and socks, and hello to lightweight, practical, flexible shoe-socks that let babies 'feel' the ground.
Attipas slip on like a sock, saving you time as you rush your toddler out the front door. That’s why our founder, Caroline Africh, originally brought Attipas to Australia and our entire range can easily replace all the other shoes and socks in your baby's cupboard.
As Seen at the Oscars!
Attipas baby shoes made it to the Oscars! Founder Caroline Africh and her team were flown to Hollywood where they handed out Attipas baby shoes to celebrities including Zoe Saldana, who is a huge fan.
Caroline also made an appearance on the Today Show where she talks to David Campbell and Sonia Kruger about getting close and personal with Ryan Gosling!
While other brands may sell 'first shoes' for babies, Attipas are the only baby shoes that successfully mimic barefoot walking. And the evidence is clear.
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ATTIPAS SHOE-SOCKS
Sizes: 6 months to 24 months
BREATHABLE MESH SHOES
Sizes: 6 months to 36 months
OTHER BABY PRODUCTS
Baby Socks, Insoles, Knee Pads
Our founder, Caroline Africh, discovered Attipas baby shoes on a holiday in Japan and knew she needed to bring them to Australia. As a mum of a then 1 year old, Caroline had unique insight into exactly what a toddler should be wearing on their feet while learning to walk. An avid fan of the barefoot movement, Caroline says: “As a new mother, I was very conscious about selecting the right first shoes for my baby.”
“The biggest mistake parents make when choosing first baby shoes is that they think they need to be structured,” Caroline says. “The reality is that science really speaks for itself. Being barefoot helps baby develop brain function and the barefoot movement has been massive for decades. When choosing suitable pre-walking shoes for babies, parents need to select something that mimics the concept of walking barefoot.”
Long before Caroline founded Attipas Australia, she had two very successful careers—first as an auditor, and then secondly as a project manager.
Caroline began her career as an IT auditor in the early 2000's, working for PwC Sydney as a graduate. Not feeling as though she 'fit in', it was then she realised her aspirations to become an entrepreneur — which she would later fulfil by bringing Attipas shoes to Australia.
At age 25, Caroline packed her bags and moved to London, and just like that, she worked her way up the chain to become a Project Manager in an investment bank. Over the next five years, she managed several large-scale IT implementations however still felt like something was 'missing' from her work life.
In her early 30s, Caroline had a baby and moved back to Sydney. After nearly a decade working in corporate, Caroline wanted to start her own business and become an entrepreneur. As a new mum conscious about baby foot health, Caroline discovered Attipas shoes in Japan and knew it was her inner calling to bring Attipas to Australia. We are proud to say: she succeeded. As seen on the Today Show, at the Oscars and on Shark Tank, over 500k pairs have been sold since Attipas arrived in 2012.
Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australian parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.
“Caroline's 'less-is-more' approach to toddler foot health has been adopted by hundreds of thousands of Australia parents, who use Attipas on their babies every single day.”
What our customers are saying about us...
“We bought these for our then 11 month old and they are the perfect baby shoe! They protect little toes, are easy to walk in even for an early walker, and the sock-style means she can't pull them off. She's one now and loves them so much that she sometimes brings them to you to put them on for her, even inside! Very glad we bought the next size up as well.” — Victoria
You Might Also Like...
ATTIPAS SHOE-SOCKS
Sizes: 6 months to 24 months
BREATHABLE MESH SHOES
Sizes: 6 months to 36 months
OTHER BABY PRODUCTS
Baby Socks, Insoles, Knee Pads
All Attipas Products are tailor-made for environmentally conscious families.
We care about making our products safe and healthy for you—and our planet. That’s why our products are non-toxic and contain no formaldehyde or BPA. They are also vegan-friendly and not tested on animals. We also keep packaging to a minimum and use cardboard over plastics where possible.
Anyone can have allergies. If your baby or toddler has any discomfort or a rash develops, discontinue use and consult your doctor.