Project: MAPI — Barefoot Footwear Collection for Kids
Requirements: Developed for MAPI, a barefoot footwear brand focused on natural movement, well-being, and more conscious choices for people and the planet.
The project included the design and technical development of a barefoot sole, together with a complete children’s footwear collection comprising four models: two sneakers and two sandals.
The main challenge was to create an exceptionally thin and lightweight sole using natural rubber, combining a soft touch, high flexibility, durability, and reliable performance.
Following the barefoot philosophy, the sole features a wide, foot-shaped profile that gives the toes enough space to spread and move naturally. Its flexible construction supports unrestricted movement, while the non-slip tread provides grip and confidence with every step.
The sole was also engineered for stitch-and-turn construction and designed as a versatile foundation for all four styles. Its clean and minimal aesthetic integrates naturally with the different upper concepts while meeting the technical and production requirements of both sneakers and sandals.
Although the final result appears simple, achieving that simplicity required extensive design and technical development. Every line, thickness, material, pattern, and construction detail was carefully considered to balance comfort, flexibility, durability, visual coherence, and manufacturing efficiency across the entire collection.
What we did:
- Footwear collection design
- Sole and outsole design
- Material research
- Technical development
- 2D patterns
- Shoe-last development
- Prototyping
- Testing and optimization
- Production
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