A Ray of Light: Developing Our Sandals

After researching other companies and their business models, we began by trying to answer the question: How can we dismantle fast fashion?

We decided early on that we wanted to make our product durable and sustainable. Some aspects we considered based on the existing frameworks of other companies were brick-and-mortar versus an app-based format, customization, repair system, recycled materials, and price. Ultimately, we realized that it would be most effective if we focused on creating one product.

Our first major decision was to create sustainable shoes rather than clothing since there seemed to be fewer variables in terms of sizing. This was imperative in our decision-making process because of our continued focus on the DIY aspect of our product.

Then, the most difficult part was trying to decide what type of shoe and how to create it. Since sneakers and other types of shoes involved more knowledge of shoe creation and design, we settled on creating sandals since that was the most feasible option for the three of us to create on our own. After watching a few videos from a few online classes on how to make your own sandals, we found that we were stuck. Most of the videos involved leather and shoe glue which would be difficult for us to source. The instructions to the designs were often specified for the individual who created the shoe, which would not work unless we were committed to creating a brick-and-mortar store and have individuals meet with us in person. Considering the current pandemic, this option would be far from ideal. By creating shoes in this manner, there was also the concern that we were just ascribing to a linear business model. Although we could implement a buy-back method, we were unsure of how we would use the old shoes that we would buy back to create new shoes. In that case, how would our business model be any different than that of other companies?

Then inspiration struck. While searching up sandals online, I came across the traditional Japanese geta shoes that are often worn to festivals. These are essentially wooden flip-flops with fabric straps. As someone who has watched perhaps too much anime, I recalled the common trope of these shoes breaking at inopportune moments. This also reminded me of the many times my flip-flops had broken precisely when I needed them. What if we created sandals that could be more easily repaired when they broke?

The design of RAY Fashion’s sandals is simple. It consists of a solid sole with two parallel holes through which fabric ties can be inserted and tied over and around the foot. These ties are not glued or tied down, ensuring that the ties are easily replaceable and that the shoe is customizable. When the sole or ties break, the broken pieces can be sent back to our company to be replaced. The simple design ensures that individuals can also repair the shoes themselves without much hassle. By designing our shoes this way and employing a buyback method, our business model can retain circularity. This model also allows for individual customization as customers can replace the ties to fit their needs and desires which reduces the chance of people discarding the entire shoe when they no longer want it. Our buyback method can be made into a subscription service for when the sandal’s ties break. Therefore, not only are our shoes circular, but our business model is as well.

Modeling Our Shoes

In modeling our shoes, we tried a few different methods. We first modeled the design with cardboard to see if it would work. We managed to make it stay on a foot, but it was not durable enough. After that, we attempted to use cork the sole, but this material proved to be too difficult to work with to create a viable product.

At this point, we realized that it would pose too great a problem for us to tackle to generate a physical model as we did not have enough information on the different types of materials we could use. Therefore, we settled on creating a 2D model of our sandal to illustrate our ideas. This model could help us in searching for and convincing manufacturers to produce our product. Since we do not currently have a physical model, we focused our attention on the interest in our sandals and how our design could be improved.

At RAY Fashion, our goal is to be involved through the entire lifecycle of our shoes. From the beginning to the end, from creation to disposal, we want to remain responsible for our sandals and the impact that they have on our environment. Although utilizing sustainable materials is important, we believe that as a company we can put greater effort into ensuring the sustainability of our products.

After all, how many broken flip-flops have you thrown out in your lifetime?

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