These aren’t your typical heels. Twist on, twist off 3D printed heels make these smart sandals suitable for strutting and sprinting.
When it comes to looking the business in the office, the same set of footwear that gets the wearer through a rush-hour commute doesn't always cut it.
Brunel design graduate Yaagni Patel’s Shapeshifter Shoes let wearers swap their high heel for a low one.
The 22 year-old from Barnet, North London had the idea when she noticed how many women commute in tatty trainers or flats with a sharp pair of heels stuffed in their bag.
“Wearing high heels at work is quite important for some women and can complete the professional look, like the convention of men wearing a tie. But getting to and from work in heels can be a problem.”
“It is so inconvenient, so I wanted to design adaptable shoes with heels people can personalise with a range of heights or styles that suit them."
The heel attachment is very simple and quick to change. It rotates and pulls out, so it can be swapped. Then a different heel attachment is pushed in and twists it into place. While she keeps the design and mechanism simple, Yaagni hasn’t scrimped on style. She’s created several different colours plus a shimmery set for going out, which can be quickly switched for the journey home.
A key part in the design was to work out the angle of the sole, so the shoe stays level at both heights. The norm for work is 2.5 – 3 inches.
“The idea is affordable, adaptable work shoes women can customise,” said Yaagni. “I didn’t want to over complicate it.”
Reported by:
Hayley Jarvis,
Media Relations
+44 (0)1895 268176
Hayley.jarvis@brunel.ac.uk