These shoes grow five sizes to keep up with the kids who wear them | Welcome to Linda Ikeji's Blog

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Friday 24 April 2015

These shoes grow five sizes to keep up with the kids who wear them

According to a report on Mashable, a charity worker named Kenton Lee has dreamt up a simple fix to an age-old problem: the constant need to buy new shoes for kids who outgrow them just months later. He and his team invented sandals that match the pace of children's growth via a system of buckles, buttons and pegs, which expand the shoes in length by up to five sizes. Built to last at least five years, they are made out of durable leather, metal snaps and compressed rubber.


In much of the developed world, the clothing needs of fast-growing kids can significantly impact a family's budget; but for those in impoverished areas who can't afford to buy shoes, the consequences can be far more severe. Without protection for their feet, these children are susceptible to infections from cuts, scrapes and soil-borne parasites that burrow into the skin, according to Lee's website The Show That Grows.

Lee was inspired to create the sandals while working at an orphanage in Nairobi, Kenya in 2007. He was struck by the sight of a small girl whose shoes were so small that the ends had to be sheared off so her toes could poke out, according to The Shoe That Grows. Looking around, Lee quickly realized the girl's plight was not uncommon.

“So right there, spur of the moment, I thought, ‘Wouldn't it be nice if there was a pair of shoes that could adjust and expand their size? A pair of shoes that could grow?'” Lee told KPTV

Lee and his team shopped the idea around to various established shoe companies without success, before they partnered with Gary Pitman. The footwear veteran previously worked at Nike and Adidas, but left to start his own shoe design company, according to KPTV.

It took Pitman several months to develop Lee's design into a finished product, and he used a 3D printer to model foot sizes.

The Shoe That Grows sells the sandals for $10 per pair, and packs them into duffel bags that hold 50 each; these bags are then shipped to one of seven countries around the world. Lee told BuzzFeed that so far about 2,500 kids have received the shoes.

Source: Mashable/KPTV

48 comments:

Davido's driver said...

Noted

Davido's driver said...

Ok

Rubylicious said...

Thanks to technology .

#BabatundeRajiFasholaForFCTMinister

Anonymous said...

Wow that's nice

Unknown said...

Cool innovation.


OKORO UPGRADED**

MADE IN NIGERIA said...

Wow!!! Datz good

Mzz_Mary said...

Make dey carry am come naija

Unknown said...

Creativity there, but still kinda look like an old concept wen u have to get a big sized shoe/big cloth in other to last for for ur kids or ward.

Unknown said...

Wow...that's good.

www.eclecticstyle.me said...

Wow! Wow!
Fantastic innovation! Amazing what the mind can concoct!

www.eclecticstyle.me

TAMARA SPLASH said...

Good one

Juleslouis said...

Wow! If i see this, i'll so definitely buy it. Shopping for shoes every 3months no be joke. Might even pop up when u don't budget for it.

ary said...

A naija hustler will walk that Sandler bare in a couple of months.

Unknown said...

Dis is nice, and grt.

@Davido driver, maintain ur former pic. Its far better than any other pic u hav used.

Anonymous said...

Which kid will like this

King Fahad said...

Nonsense Work hard and be rich then you wont have to worry if your child changes shoes every week.


***************KING FAHAD SAYS SO***********

Unknown said...

Wow! Nice 1

Unknown said...

Wow! Buh dis weather tho!

Unknown said...

Nice concept, when would it get to Nigeria. Linda take note!

Vero O. said...

very, very Nice.

Subomi said...

smart

jamal cojo said...

Kids ain't gonna like it....far too kind

Unknown said...

Always looking out for her...Ogundiran Oyindamola. love u loads

Unknown said...

I had to see for myself. It is nice.

Visit www.zuluobanor.blogspot.com for everything that is under and above the sun, and the sun itself.

PATALEX said...

I no dey buy

Anonymous said...

Lmaooo,you mean!

Anonymous said...

How can someone wear a shoe for 5 yrs. #poverty Mentality

Anonymous said...

Nice one

Anonymous said...

You are a learner and a slow one at that! This shoe concept won't be oversize the first time you wear it,only that you can adjust to size when the foot grow larger.

Anonymous said...

You are a learner and a slow one at that! This shoe concept won't be oversize the first time you wear it,only that you can adjust to size when the foot grow larger.

Beautiful wifey said...

So, my son shld wear one particular shoe for five years. Poverty ni ke! I'm not interested

Unknown said...

Nice concept..



#TeamBlessed#

Anonymous said...

Africans won't copy this,na only to copy sex and other rubbish dem sabi,apes.

Angie said...

I'd need lots and lots of it.. It'll do a lotta good to my wallet.

Unknown said...

THIS IS NOT TECHNOLOGY.ITS RATHER CREATIVITY.....AKA....LOVELY

Unknown said...

a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said...
.
The shoes look awesome though..... I think i need one....
.
.
***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***

MaOgo said...

God bless ya, sir

Unknown said...

SHEEP!!!

Anonymous said...

nice shoes indeed.



kessysoft

Jesuscares said...

Wow! I like. Good innovation.

Jesuscares said...

So heartwarming! No dulling.

Unknown said...

Pls Linda were can one get the shoes my nephew. Needs a pair almost every term his foot grows we re worried we might end up making customised shoes for him soon if he keeps growing large foot.

Unknown said...

Lol my mum would have loved it like 15years ago

Unknown said...

Good one

Unknown said...

Copy

Unknown said...

Really nice and cool

Anonymous said...

Innovative

Unknown said...

Innovative

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