The fashionable sneakers with an adaptive concept

At first glance, the brand new sneaker from the sneakers manufacturer, Trace, is trendy since it is a unisex and minimalist model, stated in three colours with a feature speckled sole. However, the concept is out of the ordinary: the sneakers can be found in pairs, but also individually. A person with dissimilar feet can buy the sneaker in two unique sizes, and anyone who wears a prosthetic leg can merely buy one shoe.

In January 2019, this idea allowed Naomi Kamphorst and Carine Martinelli to win the Meester Koetsier Entrepreneur Award. The Dutch duo gained 10,000 euros and turned their thought into a real manufacturer. On the occasion of the start of their label, Trace, in August, FashionUnited spoke with the founders via Zoom.

The idea for the sneaker started as a report project at TMO Fashion Business School, where Martinelli and Kamphorst graduated last year. Martinelli said: “We'd to build up a fashion job with a group of ten persons. In the group there is a pal of ours with two distinct size feet. Another woman turned out to get a height difference aswell, as did one of our teachers. This provided us the theory for Trace. Systems offering shoes for people with height dissimilarities have been around for some time. For example, there is the Onpaar web-site, or forums where customers can exchange shoes. “But they are often 'leftover' sneakers,” Martinelli explained.

Kamphorst and Martinelli set out to create a trendy sneaker that can be ordered individually or in different sizes, and that would be produced in a more sustainable way. This led to the Helsinki, a sneaker made with vegan leather, recycled rubber and canvas created from 70 percent organic and natural cotton and 30 percent recycled cotton. On top of that: for every sale, the duo possess planted a tree anywhere in the world via OneTreePlanted. Martinelli and Kamphorst also deliver emissions-free by bike in the vicinity of Utrecht and Amersfoort, the Netherlands.

“We have come quite a long way because the award,” explained Martinelli. “Our first samples had been still produced in Portugal, which gained us the prize at that time. Soon after the presentation, conversation with the suppliers started to be difficult. We then decided to look for another maker.” Kamphorst and Martinelli determined a number of suitable candidates in Spain on the web. Martinelli continuing: "We flew there ourselves to pick the best."

Kamphorst and Martinelli likewise wanted to get all the elements from Spain, from canvas to soles. “We've received an endless quantity of numerous variants,” added Martinelli. Especially the soles, created from waste rubber, ended up being a challenge. Nonetheless that the sneakers have been launched, the search does not stop. “We continue to look for better still prospects with suppliers." The couple agreed that the Koetsier Award offers made a lot conceivable. Kamphorst explained: “10,000 euros is an extremely nice starting amount. Until recently we have been in a position to afford almost anything.”

The shoes were supposed to be delivered in March, but as a result of coronavirus, customers had to hold back a few months longer for the shoes. On the other hand, that hat didn't detract from the response. “We have already received many confident reactions. Eighteen pairs had been sold in the initially two days, ”explained Martinelli. She laughed: "As yet predominantly in the same size." Kamphorst explained: “We start to see the specific sizes mainly as a supplementary. We are curious how many people will order different sizes, whether the idea is catching on, or whether people especially just like the sneaker. Also very good of course!”

What are the strategies for Trace? “We will continue to sell on line for the moment,” explained Kamphorst. “In the long run, we would also like to sell in stores, in order that the shoes can be tried on.” The Helsinki sneaker comes in sizes 35 to 45, with a dark blue, bright white or camel coloured back heel. Kamphorst said: "We hope to be able to make other designs, sizes and colours in the future.”

Trace sneakers are actually on presale before end of September. Until then, they price 79.95 euros per pair. After that, they expense 99.95 euros per match. Some shoes are available at half the purchase price. An additional charge of 15 euros applies for the get of an individual shoe, or two unique sizes.

This article was originally written for FashionUnited.nl. It had been translated and edited in English by Andrea Byrne.