The 'Super Mario Wedge Heels' by Kristina Leigh Howard are a geeky girl's dream. These pumps have been custom-painted to look like the landscapes of old school Super Mario levels.
One level has been painted to look like the underground levels of Mario with a black background, blue blocks and blue Goombas. The other shoe is a daytime level with bright blue skies, a mushroom and a bouncing star. Inside the shoes is a floral pattern, which is an interesting but welcomed contrast with the plumbers and giant green pipes.
When Howard isn't making gaming shoes, she is a costume designer and her work is avaible on her website. It's rumored that Howard will be releasing more themed high heel designs soon.
Geeky Gaming Pumps
The 'Super Mario Wedge Heels' Will Stomp Out Goombas
Trend Themes
1. Custom-painted Shoes - Opportunity for disruptive innovation in the customization of shoes by incorporating popular culture themes.
2. Geeky Fashion - Opportunity to tap into the market for fashion items that cater to geek and gaming enthusiasts.
3. Themed High Heels - Opportunity for creating high heel designs inspired by various themes from popular culture.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear - Disruptive innovation potential lies in incorporating popular culture themes into footwear to target niche markets.
2. Fashion - Opportunity for the fashion industry to capitalize on the growing trend of geek and gaming-inspired clothing and accessories.
3. Costume Design - Disruptive innovation potential for costume designers to expand their offerings by incorporating elements of popular culture into their designs.