On International Women's Day 2025, Antonia Saint Dunbar, Co-Founder Thinx and Antonia Saint NY, Calls for Industry-Wide Change for Women's Health in Manufacturing

Disrupting the Status Quo with Women's Footwear: Antonia Saint NY Leads the Charge for Comfort, Health, and Innovation to Empower Women Worldwide

NEW YORK, March 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- In honor of International Women's Day, Antonia Saint Dunbar, CEO and Founder of Antonia Saint NY, is calling for a major shift in how products for women are designed and manufactured. A trailblazing entrepreneur and health & wellness advocate, Dunbar has dedicated her career to solving real problems for women, first as Co-Founder of THINX, the FemTech leader in the period-proof underwear space, and now as the Chief of Design of Antonia Saint NY, a revolutionary footwear company prioritizing health, comfort, and innovation.

Dunbar is urging consumers worldwide to rethink how they are selecting their footwear based on materials, construction, and product design—stressing that the fashion and footwear industries have neglected women's well-being for too long.

A Legacy of Innovation for Women's Health

Dunbar first made waves in the industry as a co-founder of THINX, the groundbreaking brand that transformed menstrual health with period-proof underwear. With THINX, she helped redefine feminine hygiene by offering a comfortable, sustainable, and effective alternative to traditional products—challenging stigma, while prioritizing health, dignity, and function in product innovation.

Now, as the CEO of Antonia Saint NY, Dunbar has turned her focus to revolutionizing women's footwear, another industry where comfort and health have taken a backseat to aesthetics.

The Hidden Health Crisis in Women's Footwear and Fashion

Foot pain and health issues caused by poorly designed shoes have reached crisis levels. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, 75% of American adults experience foot problems, with women disproportionately affected. In fact, 60% of women regularly wear uncomfortable shoes, leading to bunions, plantar fasciitis, chronic foot pain, and mobility issues.

Despite these alarming statistics, major footwear and fashion brands continue prioritizing aesthetics over function, using stiff, non-breathable materials and outdated manufacturing techniques that fail to support women's feet and overall well-being

Dunbar sees this as a serious public health issue, arguing that poorly designed shoes don't just cause temporary discomfort—they lead to chronic pain, mobility issues, and a diminished quality of life.

Dunbar's Mission: A Footwear Revolution with Antonia Saint NY

At Antonia Saint NY, Dunbar has spent years researching and developing high-tech, ergonomic footwear designed to eliminate pain while maintaining a stylish aesthetic. Her brand integrates:

• Advanced comfort technology
• Soft but durable materials
• All-day ergonomic support

This commitment to innovation is at the heart of her latest release: The Fab Five VIDA Collection—a line of elegant, yet ultra-comfortable and surprisingly tall high heels measuring at 90MM (just over 3.5 inches and unheard of in the "comfort shoe" category) featuring her patented Slim SoftSurround System™ technology. This cutting-edge system is engineered to provide unparalleled support, cushioning, and flexibility, proving that fashionable footwear can be both beautiful AND pain-free.

However, her biggest challenge has been breaking through industry resistance to change. Many manufacturers prioritize cost-cutting and more traditional, widely accepted ways of production over consumer health, refusing to adopt new methods that would make women's footwear safer, more comfortable, and a foundational support for one's mental health/peace of mind.

Now, Dunbar is using International Women's Day to encourage consumers to put their health first and call for a radical industry shift,  and hold their footwear to a higher standard when selecting shoes based on material selection, product design, and manufacturing processes. 

A Call to Action: Consumers Need to Hold Their Footwear to a Higher Standard 

Dunbar's message is clear: It's time to disrupt the status quo. She is calling on consumers to demand more from their footwear, so that the product designers, manufacturers and engineers will be pushed to work together to eliminate pain-inducing products and replace them with healthier, more ergonomic designs that improve women's lives.

To drive this mission forward, Antonia Saint NY is encouraging women to speak up about their experiences, demand better materials in the products they buy, and hold companies accountable for prioritizing profit over well-being.

"Women cannot continue to sacrifice comfort for style," Antonia emphasizes. "We need companies that are willing to innovate, listen to women's needs, and manufacture products that truly serve and uplift us in the ways they were designed for."

For more information on Antonia Saint Dunbar's manufacturing initiatives, and how she is driving innovative change through women's fashion, or to learn more about the Fab Five VIDA Collection with the patented Slim SoftSurround System™ technology for 360-degree comfort, please reach out to BPM-PR Firm at [email protected] or call 1.877.841.7244.

ABOUT ANTONIA SAINT NY

Antonia Saint NY creates elevated comfort footwear solutions for women and others who need them. Antonia believes that you should be supported in feeling as great as you look, so you can be busy fulfilling your destiny and not be distracted by something as simple as pain from your footwear. That's why the brand makes essential, classic shoe silhouettes that feel soft on the inside, with the patented Slim SoftSurround System™ so you can keep 100% of your mind present in your life, and focused on fulfilling your dreams. For more information visit https://antoniasaintny.com/.

Media Contact:
Alexa Summerson
[email protected]
BPM-PR Firm
877-841-7244

SOURCE Antonia Saint NY