Why are there foot plates on shoes? As Julian Hakes’ wraparound shoes—or the ‘Mojito’—suggest, there’s really no need for them.
The wraparound shoes were the product of what the designer discovered when observing foot prints in sand. He saw that the force of movement was primarily through the ball and heel, meaning that the foot plate on shoes is essentially irrelevant. He created these interesting wraparound shoes made of carbon fibre (with rubber for soles and leather on the sides) that wrap and writhe around the foot, supporting the heel and the ball while the foot acts as a bridge between the two.
While they certainly don’t look like your average shoe, they’re interesting to look at—stylish even. I wonder if we’ll be seeing these wraparound shoes on the catwalks next season?
Writhing Wraparound Shoes
The 'Mojito' Shoe by Julian Hakes Has No Foot Plate
Trend Themes
1. Wraparound Shoes - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Designing shoes that eliminate the need for foot plates by wrapping and supporting the heel and ball of the foot.
2. Carbon Fibre Materials - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring the use of carbon fibre in shoe design to create lightweight and flexible footwear.
3. Footprint-inspired Design - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Applying insights from footprints in sand to create more efficient and comfortable shoe designs.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Redesigning traditional footwear by incorporating wraparound designs and utilizing high-performance materials like carbon fibre.
2. Fashion - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introducing unique and unconventional shoe designs inspired by functionality and foot prints.
3. Material Science - Disruptive innovation opportunity: Exploring innovative materials like carbon fibre for use in various industries, including footwear and other consumer products.