There was once a time, when people didn't wear shoes. However, as mobility became a necessity, the feet needed to be protected, and simple leather moccasins eventually evolved into Nike Dunks. Although we now consider the shoe a necessity, it actually has altered the way our body moves, and not always for the better.

The shoe that once was a personalized, hand-crafted piece of leather meant to clothe and protect one's feet, has now become a huge commercial industry, where selling two mirror image shoes in a pair has become the standard. However, for one or more of a myriad of reasons, a large percentage of Americans are in need of specialty shoes. Many either do not realize or choose not to acknowledge this fact, and in turn suffer chronic back and knee pain. There are many kinds of specialty shoes, and due to the magnitude of the Internet, a large number of resources and options are readily available to someone searching for specialty shoes or odd shoes.

Specialty shoes made for diabetics help in reducing circulation problems that a regular pair of shoes is likely to exacerbate. There are also shoes designed for the pregnant woman, providing crucial back and arch support that padded athletic shoes fail to address. There are a number of resources for mismatched shoes, and shoe lifts and inserts that are more cost effective than buying two pairs of shoes every time you go shopping. There are even a large number of shoes for vegetarians and vegans, made of all ?natural? products and manufactured in a responsible, eco-friendly manner.

The age of the cumbersome and terribly unattractive orthopedic shoes is at an end. Fashion is the leading factor in buying shoes, followed closely by practicality, and makers of specialty shoes have realized this and responded with stylish new products and solutions. You can use resources like the National Odd Shoe Exchange to find the perfect pair of mismatched Air Jordans, or get heel extensions for your Balenciaga pumps.