“Your kid is flat feet. She needs to be corrected soon.”

We never knew that this diagnosis could lead us to this day. Our Daughter, Alicia, was diagnosed flat feet 6 years ago when she was 16 months young. She just started to walk, and we noticed that one of her feet was out-toeing when she walked. We then brought her to the doctor and was given a receipt to make a custom orthotics to correct her flat feet.

The doctor was nice, but our feeling was not. Having a doubt to buy the orthotics, we then learned, as much as we could, whether our kid really needed this thing. We then found the fact that 97% of babies below 18 months are flat feet, and by letting them barefooting as much as we could, we allow their muscles to move free and grow strong, ready to develop an arch by the time they are 5 or 6 years old.

Since then, we have been dedicating our kid’s shoes to mimic being barefoot as much as possible. Made with the help of local craftsmen who were willing to experiment with us, what started as a very small project soon grew into Pyopp. Built from the ground up by a tiny team of passionate young people, we were proud that our work not only supported natural movement for children but also helped sustain the livelihoods and craftsmanship of local shoemakers.

The journey was not easy, we got so many critics from people because the soles were too thin and they worried if the feet were not supported enough. But slowly, we got more reviews, more supports, and love from our followers that we then called Pyopple.

While learning about kids’ feet, we notice that barefooting is good for adults too. We read many people recover from heel, knee, and back pain, get less injuries, and gain more balance and strength. With strong supports from Pyopple for those five years, we then decided to create Pyopp Fledge, the barefoot footwear for adults, also first in Indonesia.

I and Arie too, learned a lot from this journey. Since wearing barefoot footwear, we concerned more about our own health and we got more connected to our body, our soul, the goodness of natural things, and… also to ‘certain people’: the other Barefooters.

Dr. Andy Bryant told us that Nick St. Louis from @Thefootcollective once said, “foot health is a gateway to overall health.” That when we become aware of our feet, we then become alerted to how we might improve our wellbeing in another aspects: mindfulness, food, movement, sleep, spirituality, and community.

When we meet other dedicated Barefooters, we share the same passion about the wellbeing and about life. So… welcome to Pyopp Fledge!

As time passed and Pyopp Fledge grew rapidly in Indonesia, we crossed paths with Rieza and Geby, two of our friends who now live in The Hague, Netherlands.

Just like us, they became deeply interested in barefoot footwear and the health benefits it brings. For Rieza especially, it was life-changing. He had spent years wearing tight leather shoes that restricted his feet from moving naturally.

After hearing on a podcast about how essential foot health is to the body’s overall function, he searched for ways to strengthen his feet. He eventually switched to barefoot footwear, and it transformed his life for the better, for himself, for his family, and for the future he wants to build with his children.

Sharing the same passion, Rieza and Geby are now helping take the Pyopp Fledge journey, first started by Arie and Jacq in Indonesia, to its next chapter in Europe.

To help more people move naturally, live actively, and stay connected to what matters most.

Welcome to the family, dear Barefooters! 🖤

Love,

Arie & Jacqualine, Rieza & Geby