The sneaker business has never been bigger than it is today. Since 2004, sales of high-end athletic shoes increased by 40 percent to nearly $55 billion, and the resale market generates more than $1 billion. Now, one former sneakerhead hopes to put a little soul back in the soles of homeless people and disadvantaged youth by gifting them a brand new or gently worn pair.
Watch the video above to see how Rikki Mendias, founder of the grassroots nonprofit Hav a Sole, uses his background in fashion photography and social media marketing to solicit sneaker donations to stock pop-up shops for his unique patrons.
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Tag: Shoes
When Her Impoverished Students Didn’t Have Proper Attire, This Ingenious Principal Found a Way to Keep Them Warm
As this bitter winter grips Indiana, the 200 students at Heth-Washington Elementary School can step out in the cold with their best foot forward, thanks to their principal Nissa Ellett. The compassionate administrator made sure that these youngsters now have something they desperately needed before: brand new shoes.
In rural Harrison County, Ind., 75 percent of students live below the poverty line, Good News Network reports. Because of that, many families cannot afford a decent pair of shoes.
“We’ve had several students who have had holes in their shoes, the soles were peeling off, we’ve been using duct tape and staples and tying together shoe strings,” Ellett tells WDRB.
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That’s when she decided to make sure every single one of her students had a new kicks. She organized a community fundraiser hoping to raise $6,300, and the response she received was staggering. “In 24 days, we raised $17,000,” Ellett says.
Not only did the donated funds pay for shoes for each student, but it was enough to buy them snow boots, hats, outerwear, socks and candy, too.
As you can see in the touching video below, the students got to open their presents as a Christmas surprise.
“My perspective on it is if we can meet their basic needs, then they can focus on learning and that what’s critical,” Ellett says.
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How a New Technique is Changing the Way Sneakers are Made
You wear knitted sweaters, scarves and hats, but knitted shoes?
Introduced by Nike and Adidas, who are now battling for patent rights, the knitted Nike Flyknit and Adidas Primeknit are the future of shoe-making. Instead of being made of leather or nylon like traditional running shoes, the uppers of these are made from a single piece of fused yarn — a model of sustainability and efficiency.
With the old shoe-making process, excess material could not be reshaped or reused — creating a large amount of waste. But according to Nike’s sustainability report, the production of knitted shoes results in 80 percent less waste. That’s because when working with yarn, only an exact amount is used. Then, the thread is cut and the rest of the yarn can be used to make another shoe.
The technique isn’t limited to one type of fiber, either. Anything that can be made into a yarn – carbon, wool, Kevlar, gold and stainless steel – can be used to make these shoes.
Sustainability isn’t the only benefit threaded in those shoes, as the simplicity of the project is streamlining the industry as well. Knitted shoes mean a reduction in materials, labor, shipping and time. The shoes can now be produced all in one place, making it a self-contained process that can be used by small companies. All this means that more production can be done locally — benefiting both the business and consumers.
And just because the shoes are sustainable, doesn’t mean that they’re not fashionable. While the companies have been focusing on athletic footwear (Nike with their running, soccer, training and basketball shoes) they are now looking to create more lifestyle shoes that can be used by people in everyday life. Additionally, Adidas will soon be featuring a limited edition designed by Kanye West.
Adidas’ director of running Mikal Peveto has noticed the endless possibilities for this process and the shoe industry.
“Let’s be honest: This is beyond a need-based industry — it’s also a desire-based object,” Peveto told City Lab. “From an aesthetic standpoint, when our style group really gets into it, there’s no horizon.”
So as we head out on our busy days, it’s time to follow a path toward a more sustainable and efficient future — with our knitted-clad feet leading the way.
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