It's a traditional and polite practice to remove your shoes at the front entranceway of a home, so the 'Tobiishi' step pads are designed to offer a better way for hosts to lean over to answer the door.
Designed by Duncan Shotton, the 'Tobiishi' pads are intended to be placed in the lowered genkan area that is found in many Japanese homes. When someone comes to the door, the person answering it can simply step on the 'Tobiishi' pads in the genkan area instead of walking in the designated space for dirty shoes and footwear.
The 'Tobiishi' step pads are crafted with a simple aesthetic and feature bi-cast leather that is soft enough to be stepped on either with or without socks.
Entranceway Stepping Stones
The 'Tobiishi' Step Pads Offer a Dedicated Spot to Step
Trend Themes
1. Entranceway Step Pads - Opportunity for innovative entranceway products that improve convenience and cleanliness.
2. Genkan Solutions - Potential for innovative solutions that enhance the functionality and aesthetics of genkan areas in homes.
3. Shoe-free Living - Growing trend towards shoe-free environments creates demand for products that facilitate the practice.
Industry Implications
1. Home Decor - Disruptive innovation opportunities for home decor companies to design stylish and functional entranceway step pads.
2. Footwear - Potential for shoe companies to create specialized footwear for indoor use within genkan areas.
3. Interior Design - Innovative interior design solutions can be developed to optimize genkan areas and integrate them seamlessly into the overall home design.