# Hand-Pleated Platforms Minimarket Designs Creative Wedges Perfect for the Warm Weather By Olivia Chow | Published 2012-05-09 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/platform-pleat-minimarket1 References: [minimarket.se](http://www.minimarket.se/store/shoes/multicolor-pump-pleat) Swedish brand Minimarket creates its most advanced shoe ever, the 'Pleat Pump.' To make the shoe, a suede material is hand-pleated and draped over the shoe's skeleton. The colors it comes in include sand and black, which seem to alter whether the shoe looks like a shell, the stern of a boat or candy. The design is eccentric enough for fashion icon Bjork who is known to carry the boot version. The quality and creativity of this shoe is not a surprise from the proudly short and curly haired women at Minimarket. The brand won Newcomer of the year in 2007 and designer of the year in 2010. The shoes are sold in stores across Europe, the United States, Australia and parts of Asia. ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 4.6/10 - Popularity: 68% | Activity: 63% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 10% men, 90% women - Primary generations: Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) > [Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/shoes) ## Key Themes ### Why This Trend Is Growing - **Hand-pleated Shoes:** The trend of hand-pleated shoes offers an opportunity for companies to showcase unique craftsmanship and creative designs. - **Eccentric Footwear:** The growing popularity of eccentric footwear opens doors for innovative designs that cater to unique fashion preferences. - **Sustainable Fashion:** The hand-pleated platforms highlight the trend towards sustainable fashion by using high-quality materials and intricate craftsmanship. ### Industries Being Reshaped - **Fashion Design:** The fashion design industry can leverage the hand-pleated shoe trend to create distinctive footwear collections that appeal to fashion-forward consumers. - **Retail:** Retailers can tap into the demand for eccentric footwear by stocking hand-pleated shoes that offer customers unique and statement-making options. - **Craftsmanship:** The hand-pleating technique in shoe manufacturing opens up opportunities for the craftsmanship industry to showcase their skills and create bespoke footwear. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Chic Perforated Flats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/perforated-flats.md) - [3-in-1 Platform Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/ugg-goldenrise.md) - [Platform Statement Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/8inch-flipflops.md) - [Second Skin-Feeling Collaborative Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/peu.md) - [Randomness-Inspired Designer Footwear Lines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/beauty-in-chaos.md) - [Dynamic Ultra-High Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/platform-sneaker-1.md) - [Luxury Fashion House Moccasins](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/suede-delave-wedge-ankle-boot.md) - [Joyfully Patterned Collaborative Footwear](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/crocs-and-marimekko.md) - [Hybrid Love-Motif Cozy Boots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-dipper-boot.md)