Millions of pairs of shoes end up in the landfill every year, so the 'Layer' shoe by Evan Stuart is intended to change this with a design that can be easily repaired when damaged or wear renders it unusable.
The shoe comes with the soles, uppers, insoles and fastening laces all fully assembled like any other footwear option out there, but can be easily repaired if one of the components fails. This means that wearers can simply order a new sole or upper as they require rather than needing to throw out the entire product, which can be quite wasteful in the grande scheme.
The 'Layer' shoe is crafted from recycled and biodegradable materials to ensure a focus on sustainability, and is the winner of the 2018 James Dyson Award.
Repairable Slip-on Sneakers
The 'Layer' Shoe by Evan Stuart Fights Against Unnecessary Waste
Trend Themes
1. Repairable Footwear - The 'Layer' shoe demonstrates the trend of creating footwear that can be easily repaired, reducing waste and promoting sustainability.
2. Circular Economy Fashion - The use of recycled and biodegradable materials in the 'Layer' shoe aligns with the trend of circular economy fashion, which aims to minimize waste in the fashion industry.
3. Personalized Shoe Components - The modular design of the 'Layer' shoe highlights the trend of personalized shoe components, allowing wearers to easily replace specific parts based on their needs.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear Manufacturing - The 'Layer' shoe presents an opportunity for footwear manufacturers to incorporate repairable designs into their product offerings, appealing to environmentally-conscious consumers.
2. Sustainable Fashion - The use of recycled and biodegradable materials in the 'Layer' shoe aligns with the sustainable fashion industry, providing an innovative solution to reduce shoe waste.
3. Online Retail - The availability of individual shoe components for the 'Layer' shoe online opens up opportunities for online retailers to cater to customers' specific repair needs, allowing them to purchase only the parts they need.