It's easy for us to take what we believe to be simple things for granted.
Even Kenton Lee also didn't know how important shoes were until he visited Kenya. Kenton Lee is the guy who invented "The Shoe That Grows," an adjustable leather sandal that can be readjusted to five larger sizes that last for at least five years.
Kids grow like weeds, and that includes their feet! Shoes are essential – not just an accessory to complete a cute outfit. The sandals are available in universal small and large sizes, and they are making a huge difference to children in developing countries.
Going barefoot, children, especially in developing urban areas, are at risk of cuts that can cause infection. People donate shoes, but kids grow out of them really quickly, which is why this invention is so brilliant.
Lee told BuzzFeed, "I had no idea how important shoes were before I went to Kenya," Lee said. "But kids, especially in urban areas, can get infections from cuts and scrapes on their feet from going barefoot, and contract diseases that cause them to miss school."
The soles are made out of compressed rubber, similar to a car tire, and come in various colors. Not just practical but fashionable!
The shoes "grow" by loosening the snaps, buckles, and peg mechanisms.
"We are confident in the durability of our shoes because we designed them first and foremost for function and not fashion. In fact, we didn't care at all what they looked like (even though we are happy with how they turned out). We just wanted to make the longest-lasting shoe possible. Purely functional," Lee told Bored Panda.
Today, about 2,500 children are already wearing these shoes in seven countries – Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and Peru. Donors can buy the shoes and send them to developing countries for $10, delivered to orphanages and churches worldwide.
Lee even pitched "The Shoe That Grows" to well-known brands like Nike, Crocs, and Toms, but it was rejected.
"For years, the idea of these growing shoes wouldn't leave my mind," he told BuzzFeed News.
Eventually, Lee developed the design with "Proof of Concept" and started "Because International."
"The design process was interesting because I am not a designer," said Lee. "And I knew nothing about shoes. I was just a normal guy with an idea. We considered making even larger ones for teenagers, but we were told that they didn't want to wear 'charity shoes,' they wanted to wear 'something cooler.'"
Teenagers. They're all the same, aren't they? 😅
I don't think they look that bad... And I'm not just saying that because they look incredibly similar to a pair of water shoes I have...
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