About inswalk
Hi, I'm Rachel Quinn - The founder of inswalk.
"Image: Ms. Rachel Quinn, CEO of inswalk, was being interviewed."
As someone who’s struggled with bunions for years, I was tired of choosing between comfort and style. So I founded inswalk - barefoot shoes made with care, insight, and real experience, to help women walk free from pain.
"Image: Ms. Rachel Quinn CEO of inswalk wearing inswalk barefoot shoes in every style."
Table of Contents:
1. Why I Created inswalk?
“I used to walk 10,000 steps a day in shoes that weren’t made for women like me. Stylish, yes. Comfortable? Never.”
For over a decade, I lived the classic city life - early starts, packed tube rides, back-to-back meetings, and long commutes across London. Like many women, I wore shoes that looked polished but never felt quite right. Narrow toes. Elevated heels. Zero support. Just another trade-off we’re told is normal.
By my mid-thirties, I had developed a painful bunion on my right foot. My toes felt constantly cramped. Even short walks became a calculated risk. I carried backup flats everywhere, avoided spontaneous plans, and dreaded the thought of standing too long at a wedding or event.
I remember one evening in particular: after limping home from a short commute, I sat on the floor, barefoot, just staring at my feet. I barely recognised them. The shape had changed. The pain had become part of my personality.
I thought, “Why do we design shoes that punish us for moving?”. That question became inswalk.
"Image: Ms. Rachel Quinn CEO of inswalk with foot with bunion."
2. Discovering the Barefoot Path
I began researching foot health from podiatrist blogs to anatomy charts. That’s when I discovered the world of barefoot shoes: minimalist footwear that mimics walking barefoot, with a wide toe box, zero-drop sole, and no rigid structure to force your foot into unnatural positions.
I’ll admit I hesitated. Could they actually work? Could I still feel stylish?
So I experimented. I started walking to work in barefoot trainers. I added gentle foot exercises and began wearing toe separators in the evening. No surgeries, no drastic changes, just a new relationship with my feet.
It wasn’t instant, but it was powerful.
Week by week, the inflammation in my bunion reduced. My toes began to spread naturally again. My posture felt stronger. For the first time in years, I could go for a long walk not just endure it.
"Image: Barefoot woman walking on grass with flowers around and on her feet."
3. The Birth of inswalk
What started as a personal shift became a mission.
I realised there was a massive gap: barefoot shoes designed for women, with both function and style in mind. Not repurposed men’s designs. Not hiking-only models.
So I gathered a small, women-led team to create something different shoes that honour natural foot movement, support real urban lifestyles, and still look quietly elegant.
We designed each pair with:
- Foot-shaped lasts, not fashion-shaped ones
- Hands-free design, so you can slip in and out easily
- Soft yet structured materials, perfect for work, travel, or play
- And always, zero-drop soles and room for your toes to move naturally
We didn’t want to chase trends. We wanted to build a future where walking whether it's to the café, the office, or to pick up your kids feels natural again.
"Image: A woman wearing inswalk mobivio barefoot shoes."
4. inswalk Belief
At inswalk, we believe that pain shouldn't be the price of beauty. That you don’t need to shrink your feet to fit into someone else’s idea of style. That the best shoes make you forget you’re wearing them at all.
We’re proud to still be a small, female-led brand, crafting shoes that respect your body, your time, and your journey. No gimmicks. No compromises. Just timeless comfort, grounded in real lives.
So here’s to walking further not faster. Here’s to walking in your own shape.
"Image: Feminine barefoot steps on grass, with petals scattered around her feet."
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Rachel Quinn
Founder, inswalk