Footwear Design University Student - I need your help!

[WoodlandWanderer21]

Hi all,

I am a footwear design student and am currently working on a children's range for my final year project. The design concept is "woodland wanderers", a genderless range that intertwines sensory and educational elements into kids footwear. I'm thinking of designing a sock-like upper that can be popped in the washing machine and a detachable sole that can be changed for when kids grow or feet develop. But I really need some parental advice and opinion to help this come to life!

I'd love to know of any issues you've had with previous kids footwear or what you look for when buying shoes for your children, price? fit? style?

Thank you all!

I used to look for sturdy construction and support. Style and price, less so, but kids' shoes tend to be cheap. They also outgrow them so fast.

In your design, how would you affix the sole to the upper?

Hi!

Thanks for your response! I'm trying to make the collection as sustainable as possible because of the quick lifecycle kids shoes have. I'm thinking of having a knitted harness that connects to the sole so it can be completely taken apart. So rather than buying a whole new shoe, you buy individual parts. Still in very early stages!

It's an interesting concept. I'd be wary of the sole separating from the upper while running, jumping and general child-like mayhem.

I will definitely keep that in mind! Thank you so much for your help!

I'd be more concerned about water getting in through the join between sole and upper. Dealbreaker for me.

Thank you so much for raising this, It will be definitely something I take on board. What other issues do you look out for with kids shoes?

What other issues do you look out for with kids shoes?

It depends how old the child is and at what stage in their development they are. For my first daughter, when she started walking at about 11 months it was a case of finding anything she'd be happy to have on her feet without screaming the world down, just so that she got used to the idea of shoes. By the time she was a bit older, 16 months or so, it was about finding something with sufficient flex in the sole to allow her to feel surfaces and improve her walking, but sturdy enough to be safe.

She's four now, and her shoes get a hammering a couple of days a week at nursery so it's about the practicality: scuff resistance, ability to tip sand out easily and so on. She also needs to be able to put them on securely and take them off by herself.

I had thought that she would outgrow shoes before they wore out, but she had a pair of Clarks in trainer-type material which sprouted holes long before she outgrew them. We won't make that mistake again.

Finally, whilst we're in the fortunate position where if we really need to buy a new pair of children's shoes we can do so without fretting too much at the cost, we're not rolling in money and price does come into it eventually. The last pair of leather Clarks cost £40, which is more than I would pair for a pair of shoes for myself. It's poor value, and I would think twice about paying much more. I'd happily buy something else if I thought it was better value for money.