Walking. It’s something most of us do every day without really thinking too much about it. Juil, an innovative footwear company is trying to change that.  The company, launched in February 2011, creates footwear that aims to recreate the sensation your feet feels when walking barefoot in a concept called grounding.  Advocates of grounding assert that when one’s bare feet comes in direct contact with Mother Earth, toxic electrons that cause medical ailments are absorbed into the ground like a magnet; thus, constant contact to the Earth is vital for our well-being.

Since walking barefoot is not feasible for our everyday lives, and the outsoles of shoes prevent the connection with the Earth, Juil has developed a variety of trendy footwear that not only look fashionable, but allows the electrons to flow between your body and the Earth. All of the footwear contains copper dots which act as a conduit, allowing the connection so that the body may be cleansed of stress and toxins in the form of free radicals.

For a couple of days last week I tested The Cap Toe in Snakeskin (pictured above). The soft insoles are very comfortable and when I am wearing the flats it feels almost as if I am, well, barefoot. Immediately, my feet felt relaxed when I put them on and continued to be at ease as I strutted around the city running errands. I can’t really speak on the grounding proprieties of the shoes, as I am a generally healthy individual; but, I do like feeling like I’m doing something good for my body just by wearing a comfy pair of flats. And, when you buy a pair of snazzy Juil footwear, you will feel good before you even put the shoes on –  for each footwear purchased, the company donates a pair to a person in need in a developing country.

Learn more about Juil and see more of their footwear options by visiting their website here.

FTC Disclosure: The shoes were provided gratis for review.