Retro Suede Sneakers

Improper shoes, both in size and shape, are the number one reason behind foot-related problems, with 60% of kids losing some anatomical health in their feet by age six. Given that the bones in a child’s foot do not fully develop and harden until at least age 13, the shoes that your child wears in the early years are incredibly important.

Ten Little shoes differ from the majority of kids’ shoes on the market, which are often mini versions of adult shoes with narrow, tapered toe boxes and raised, chunky outsoles, which can negatively impact gait and posture. Children’s feet are not just smaller versions of adult feet, so their shoes shouldn't be smaller versions of adult shoes either! 

Our TenForm™ Fit System takes a different approach. Designed in collaboration with doctors and awarded the APMA Seal of Acceptance (The American Podiatric Medical Association), our Retro Suede Sneakers support healthy development and natural movement in growing kids. Prioritizing a natural shape, our shoes mimic a child’s bare foot with wide, foot-shaped toe boxes to match the asymmetrical splay of their toes and flexible, zero-drop soles for optimal gait and ground feedback. Crafted with a PETA-approved vegan suede upper and a breathable 100% cotton lining, every pair features an adjustable velcro strap to ensure a secure fit, along with non-skid outsoles for durable play all day. 

In addition to the right shape, the right size is also key to a healthy fit. 2 out of 3 kids are wearing the wrong shoe size. Wearing shoes that are too small as well as too big can adversely impact foot development and movement. Our Retro Suede Sneakers come with our signature removable insoles featuring Spot the Cheetah, which help parents verify their child’s size and encourage kids to put their shoes on independently. The matching cheetah pattern on the insoles fits together like puzzle pieces, making it easy for your child to identify left and right.

Our proprietary TenForm™ Fit System is designed to support natural movement and healthy growth at every stage. Grounded in medical insights and biomechanical research, TenForm™ ensures every Ten Little shoe is built around how children’s feet actually grow and move, prioritizing anatomical shape, balance, flexibility, and comfort without compromise. TenForm™ supports healthy foot development through:

• Wide, foot-shaped toe boxes for natural toe splay

• Zero-drop construction with no heel raise for proper gait and posture

• Minimal soles for optimal ground awareness

• Flexible soles that bend and move with growing feet

We recommend using our Size Guide, where you can download our Printable Fit Finder, take our Fit Finder Quiz, or view our Size Chart to determine your child’s best size in Ten Little.

We do not offer different-width shoes, but our shoes have an adjustable velcro strap to obtain the proper fit. They were specifically designed to mimic kids’ feet, three-dimensionally, with plenty of room for wiggles. They have been successfully tested with a variety of foot shapes, including both wide and narrow feet. If you are using our fit finder or insoles to check your little one’s fit, please note that these are best used for matching the length of the feet to the right shoe size and do not represent the three-dimensional fit of our shoes.

You can double-check the fit of your current Ten Little shoes using the removable cheetah insoles in your child’s shoes. Simply remove the shoe insoles to see where your child’s toe lands in relation to the size band. In the proper size, your child’s longest toe will land right within the cheetah print line. If their toes go past the line at all, it’s time to size up! We also recommend saving our shoeboxes, which have printed size guides inside them.

When it’s time to size up, we will text and email you a reminder to check if your little one is ready to graduate to the next size. If you have any questions about sizing or size-up notifications, you can email hello@tenlittle.com.

The main differences between the two are the fabric of the upper and the closures. Our Retro Suede Sneakers are crafted with a vegan suede upper, while our Everyday Originals are made with a vegan leather upper. Both feature a breathable cotton lining. Our Retro Suedes feature elastic no-tie laces and a single adjustable strap whereas our Everyday Originals have two velcro straps.

Both our APMA-approved Retro Suedes and our Everyday Originals are great options for everyday play with high-traction, non-skid natural rubber outsoles and our signature barefoot friendly design: wide, foot-shaped toe boxes and flat, flexible rubber soles for healthy development and natural movement. 

Unlike traditional suede, our shoes are made from a vegan suede which offers some natural water resistance that can stand up to rain when out and about! Our Retro Suede Sneakers aren’t a true waterproof shoe because we’ve designed them to stay breathable for everyday comfort.

Absolutely. Our Retro Suede Sneakers accommodate AFO/SMO orthotics, braces, and high-volume feet due to their natural shape—just remove the insoles. 

Yes, our Retro Suedes are available in youth sizes. Our sneakers cater to early walkers through elementary school-aged kids, offering sizes 4 through 2Y with half sizes. 

Both the upper and outsole of the shoe can be spot-cleaned using a clean, soft cloth dampened with water, with the addition of a mild soap as needed. You can also try using a magic eraser on our outsoles to remove scuff marks or scratches. We don’t suggest machine washing because multiple washes or constant submerging in water can start to break down the shoe materials. It’s best to remove the insoles before hand washing and let the shoes air-dry completely!

Our shoes are made to mimic your child’s natural foot shape and do not come with arch support. Arch support in infant and toddler shoes is not recommended for them to develop a healthy arch and the muscles around it, unless advised by a doctor. If your child needs arch support, Ten Little shoes fit with orthotics - just remove the insoles.

Our Retro Suede Sneakers are made with a PETA-approved vegan suede upper, 100% cotton lining, and natural rubber non-skid outsoles made from the milk of the Hevea tree. Like all of our shoes, our Retro Suedes are non-toxic, cruelty-free, and made without animal products or by-products. Our materials are rigorously tested to ensure that they are safe for your little ones and exceed the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standards for children’s products.