Maarja Linsi

The collection of indoor footwear for children is based on the research of children’s shoes and consists five different models which are presented with designs, technical drawings and 3D visuals. The technical designs of the prototypes have been created taking into account the requirements of children’s footwear. The focus of the designs is on the uppers of the shoes, which can be done with industrial knitting. Knitted uppers are an innovative approach to footwear manufacturing, as they can be knitted without waste and the properties of the footwear can be knitted with a choice of yarns. The properties of the merino wool chosen for knitting the uppers are well suited for making children’s shoes, as the material allows the skin to breathe, feels soft and allows the foot to move freely.

The elastic knitted on the upper is an easy way to create a comfortable grip around the foot. The rubber lace fastenings with a stopper do not require much effort to adjust the shoe properly. The consructions of the footwear have been chosen to be as flexible as feet. The mobility and flexibility of outsoles are provided by natural wool felt and vegetable tanned leather. The slipperiness of the sole is prevented by a non-slip pattern printed under the sole, which is inspired by the atomic and nuclear enthusiasm of the mid-20th century. The colours of the collection are chosen from the stylistics of the footwear and clothing brands for children, which emerged after the Second World War.