Portuguese footwear company, Savana Calçados, won the Metal Shoe competition with its Braille & Sustainability project, which created a boot suitable for children with blindness.
Using UV Printing and 3D printing, the boot has implemented Braille on foot and on the box and labels, making the product accessible to people with blindness. The shoe also features an easy put-on-and-take-off system, removing the need to use laces.
The commercial head of Savana Calçados, Luísa Silva, noted that the project aims to contribute to a more inclusive society that enables people with disabilities to be as autonomous as possible.
"We want the industry to break barriers and be accessible to all."
The shoe is also crafted using sustainable materials. The sole is produced with seaweed, while the cut is made of apple peel and bamboo lining.
Savana Calçados' project was an addition to multiple other social initiatives the company carries out every year. The company continues to invest in developing more technical products in the sustainability sphere.
