Designers have transformed children’s dream school shoes into reality with a series of imaginative illustrations. The playful designs, which include disco lights in the soles, mood-responsive laces and a secret compartment for sweets, capture the wishes of youngsters who spend their days in school footwear.
The concept was inspired by a survey of 1,000 children aged six to 11, revealing that 46 per cent would appreciate built-in trackers to prevent getting lost, while 44 per cent desired a camera feature for capturing moments with friends. Over half of the respondents wished for shoes that could grant them the speed of a cheetah, and 47 per cent longed for the ability to teleport anywhere.
Springs in the soles were a popular request from 38 per cent of the children, hoping to enhance their jumping abilities, while 37 per cent fancied wheels for an effortless skate to school each morning.
Simon Wilson, managing director at Deichmann, which commissioned the research and is offering Buy One Get One Half Price across all kids’ school shoes, said: “The imagination of children should always be celebrated. They have some many fantastic ideas, which we’ve really enjoyed seeing brought to life in this illustration.
“Some of the suggestions are a bit far-fetched, others seem surprisingly practical. There are plenty of times when we’ve all probably needed a built-in tracking function to help us get around…or even a bit of extra speed to get us to where we need to go.”
Other innovative features included voice-activated laces and magnetic clasps which snap together. When it comes to colour, 31 per cent of the respondents preferred traditional black, although many girls expressed a desire for floral or starry embellishments to add a touch of sparkle.
Boys, conversely, largely favoured a single colour, with some suggesting camouflage or bold shapes as decorative elements. But despite their differences in pattern preference, over half of both boys and girls believed that their ideal school shoe would surpass anything currently available in stores.
In addition, while aesthetics were important they weren’t paramount. Eight in ten prioritised comfort above all else when it came to footwear. Parents echoed this sentiment, ranking comfort as their top priority, followed by quality and durability.
The survey revealed that half of the parents found purchasing school shoes to be the most frustrating aspect of back-to-school preparation. However, nearly half allowed their children significant input in the decision-making process.
In terms of shopping preferences, parents prioritised good value (61 per cent), a wide range of sizes (55 per cent), and convenient store locations (54 per cent), according to data from OnePoll.com.
Simon added: “We know getting kids ready for Back to School can be a tricky time for parents and offering the best value school shoes is top of our priority list too.
“Although the summer holidays have just started, thinking about this now could help avoid the last-minute rush in the weeks before the new term starts.
“It’s important the shopping process is as efficient as possible – parents want to know they can select from a wide range of styles and sizes and find footwear that is great quality and durable.”