The 'Heaven’s Door' shoes have been designed by Jeff Shen as a low-tech footwear style to provide the wearer with an easy way to put them on and take them off.
The shoes feature a mule-style design that's accented by a spring-loaded heel, which can be activated to secure it to the foot or allow for removal. The Nitinol spring is the secret to the shoe's automated functionality and can be activated positioning it onto the accompanying mat. This eliminates the need to ties laces or bend over making the shoe great for the elderly or differently abled.
The 'Heaven’s Door' shoes are designed to look just like conventional footwear to enhance a wearer's sense of self-esteem rather than feeling like an outsider.
Automated Low-Tech Shoe Designs
The 'Heaven’s Door' Shoes Allow for Easy On and Off
Trend Themes
1. Low-tech Footwear - Opportunity to design more automated low-tech footwear for those with disabilities or the elderly.
2. Spring-loaded Design - Opportunity to incorporate spring-loaded or other automated designs into other fashion items for easy wearability.
3. Fashionable Accessibility - Opportunity to create fashionable and inclusive designs for those who may feel like outsiders due to mobility issues.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear - Potential to develop more automated, accessible footwear for those with mobility issues.
2. Fashion - Opportunity for design innovation in the fashion industry that prioritizes accessibility and inclusivity for all.
3. Assistive Technology - Potential to create more assistive technology that addresses everyday challenges related to mobility.