India, June 6 -- Anyone who commutes, walks between meetings, or spends long hours outside knows the struggle it is to find workwear flats that actually look stylish and don't destroy your feet halfway through the day.

A lot of formal flats look polished for exactly 20 minutes before the back straps start digging in, the soles feel paper-thin, or the material starts rubbing painfully near the toes. And nobody wants to carry emergency band-aids in their handbag every day.

Thankfully, comfortable footwear has become much more fashionable recently. Soft cushioning, anti-skid soles, padded straps, breathable fabrics, and ergonomic fits are becoming part of everyday footwear design instead of just orthopedic-looking shoes.

At the same time,...