The Heel That Changed Everything
I was ready to give up on heels altogether. Not because I stopped loving them—but because every pair left me limping, aching, or secretly counting down the minutes until I could take them off. Sound familiar?
As someone with broken bones, bunions, and a bad knee, I'd tried every "comfortable" heel out there. Designer pairs that promised comfort but delivered burning feet and screaming knees. "Comfort" brands that looked orthopedic. I started leaving events early, swapping into flats in my car, saying no more often than yes.
It sounds dramatic until you've lived it. If you know, you know.
The Starting Line
I’m Caroline Hughes—Ironman triathlete, lifelong runner, and founder of PIAR™, a Seattle-based, female-founded footwear brand rethinking heels from the ground up.
After a morning run, my feet always felt great—supported, stable, pain-free. Then I’d change into heels, and all that comfort disappeared. Running shoes had all the innovation; heels were stuck in the past. I wanted that same kind of ease—the kind where you stop thinking about your feet altogether. That was the starting line for PIAR.
It Was A Marathon
The Performance Heel™ took five years to get right. I worked with biomechanics and footwear experts across four countries, testing and refining prototypes through COVID lockdowns and cancer treatment.
It meant starting from scratch—not just adding padding to a traditional heel. Every decision—from the shape to the materials—was made with performance in mind. The result is a patent-pending 2-inch block heel that combines the support of performance footwear with the look and feel of a classic heel.
What Makes The Performance Heel™ Different
Built from the ground up:
- Rocker soles that conserve energy and absorb shock
- Weight distribution designed to reduce pressure on joints
- Custom-contoured Ortholite® insoles for heel-to-toe support
- A toe box designed with real wiggle room
- Buttery Nappa leather that molds to your feet
Designed in Seattle and handcrafted in Brazil by a family-owned factory with over 50 years of expertise.
Today, they're worn by flight attendants on long-haul flights, professionals leading meetings, and women who'd nearly given up wearing heels—from Seattle to London, Paris, and beyond.
This Is Bigger Than Shoes
It's not just about comfort. It’s about feeling free again.
Free to stay as long as you want.
Free to say yes.
Free to feel like yourself again—confident, comfortable, and unstoppable.
If you’ve been white-knuckling your way through heels, juggling multiple pairs, or avoiding them altogether—these are for you.
Let’s go,
Caroline