A pair of shoes are made up of many parts.
There are:
-the uppers
-the linings
-the soles
-insoles as cushion for the feet
As such, there are many different kind of material required to make a pair. Material used in making shoes are:
-leather
-textiles
-rubber
-synthetics materials like polyurethane (PU)
-foam
On top of that, there are various types of footwear. You can check out the types available in the market at the following link:
Different Types of Footwear and Their Names
Other than protecting the feet, they are also designed for:
-different activities.
-climates.
-occasions.
Feet generally stop growing when the growth plates in the bones fuse, which is typically:
-by age 14-16 for girls.
-by and 16-18 for boys.
Feet for some individuals can continue to grow until the early 20s. The number of pairs, school-age children, can go through in a year depends on:
-their activity level.
-how quickly their feet grow.
-the durability of the shoes worn.
People who can afford it may own many pairs of the same type of shoes and in different colours, even though they have not worn out or outgrown what they already own. According to an article I read, "10 Shoe Facts Everyone Should Know", on Shoeaholics, Celine Dion has over 10,000 pairs of shoes and one in eight people own over 100 pairs of shoes. 8.43% of people buy shoes because they make them feel good.
We may not be able to cut down on material for making shoes for those who are into following current trends in fashion but we can adopt Kenton Lee’s shoe design that he developed for children in developing countries. You can see from this video that the shoe is designed to last five years as its size can be altered as the child’s feet grow.
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The design is very suitable for school-age children living in tropical countries. For normal activity, they can wear socks with the adjustable shoes to protect their feet. Their regular school shoes will last longer when they are only worn during athletic activities in school. However, in countries where there are four seasons, can thermal or thicker wool socks keep them warm during the colder months?
Let us also work on belts for school children. According to Size Guides from Your School Uniform, a child's waist line from age 6 to 14 years can be from 22" to 30". Based on a review shared by Sammy Lu about Willbond belts that she bought for her children, I think its concept is good as it has:
-a magnetic buckle which makes it easier for a child to put on and remove.
-an adjustable belt which is also elastic so that it is more comfortable to be worn over time, as the child grows.
Buying such adjustable shoes and belts for children will be cheaper if they are sold in the schools they are attending. It will also help reduce material wastage since children, as they grow, will not have to replace them as often compared to other regular shoes and belts sold in the market that are not adjustable.
This is something that parents can highlight during their Parent-Teacher Association meeting to make it happen.
