Single shoes

[Speicher]

I was thinking more of people who perhaps had a leg amputatied near the hip, and are therefore unlikely to be able to have a false leg. Or people who have recently had a leg amputated and need to regain their strength and heal the wound, before having a false leg fitted.

 

[got-to-get-fit]

now this has got to go down as the most unusual thread of 2009

 

[Globalti]

A few years ago a Nigerian I know took delivery of a sefreight container of shoes from Taiwan. Very cheap they were - the only problem was that they weren't paired. It took him months to match them all up.

 

[Arch]

On a serious note, amputees would want a pair of shoes, not just one. They still have to have a shoe on the end of the false leg, they don't just hop about on one leg you know!

I think Speicher is well aware of that...

I wonder if they might be more valuable then, in an overseas situation where poverty might mean some people simple don't get a prothesis? Might be worth contacting Oxfam or similar to see if they have any ideas?

If they are left and right, then they might be paired for size, and some people would be grateful to get a pair even if they don't match (as long as they were basically similar, IE, not one stiletto, and one trainer)

 

[Speicher]

Arch, yes that was another possibility.

I was not sure of the style of shoe worn, say in areas with landmine victims, and they might prefer the type of traditional shoe worn by others.

It is difficult to explain what I mean here. We do not really want to ship out unsuitable shoes.

It may be that there is a steady stream of single shoes from this manufacturer, so any further ideas are welcome.

 

[Amanda P]

Failing all other good causes, perhaps a conceptual artist could use them for some sort of installation piece?

 

[Speicher]

I googled "single shoes" last night, Uncle Phil, I think someone has already done that!

 

[Amanda P]

Damn. Another idea re-invented.

 

[got-to-get-fit]

How about giving Rolf Harris a bell?

His Jake the Peg act usually requires a 3rd shoe for his wooden leg.

He might well fancy a new one for the wooden leg or maybee 3 or 4 so he can co-ordinate with whatever outfit he is wearing.


What about touting them door to door....some neighbourhoods that i cycle through like to make their area more attractive and give it a sense of 'fun' by hanging shoes from telephone wires.

 

[Arch]

Arch, yes that was another possibility.

I was not sure of the style of shoe worn, say in areas with landmine victims, and they might prefer the type of traditional shoe worn by others.

It is difficult to explain what I mean here. We do not really want to ship out unsuitable shoes.

It may be that there is a steady stream of single shoes from this manufacturer, so any further ideas are welcome.

I know what you mean, you don't want to create problems, or come across as patronising.

I'm fairly certain that, somewhere in the world, there are people who would be very pleased to get these shoes - the trouble is, tracking them down!

Presumably, the alternative is landfill - there must be a better use than that...

Theatre/clown school type groups? Organisations that might have kids dressing up for fun?

 

[Speicher]

Research on Tinternet, on "single shoes" led to a variety of dross, ie single bar shoes, and single velcro shoes . However, it also led to a newspaper article about a major shoe shop discontinuing the practice of selling shoes in singles, and a campaign by a Charity to suggest that they should continue said practice - which led (are you still with me) to the Charity based in Cheshire which has a database of children and adults needing single shoes.

These details have now been passed to said Manufacturer of shoes.

However, if a greater quantity of shoes is found, or one charity cannot take them all, other possibilies are in the pipeline.

It makes me wonder. Those big shoe supermarkets, self-service places, they must end up with odd shoes, as it were. Even normal shoe shops, must end up with one damaged shoe, and one good shoe sometimes.

I will be enquiring of Oxfam about Landmine Victims, and if this would help what shoes they would like/need.

Yes, Arch, there has got to be a better use for these good quality shoes, rather than putting them in landfill. Shoes can be recycled, but for some reason, only in pairs.

 

[Amanda P]

I'm dimly remembering a photograph of a bicycle wheel, but instead of a rim and tyre, it had lots of little legs, and on each leg was a shoe.

Any good to someone who builds whacky bikes?

 

[Fnaar]

I'm dimly remembering a photograph of a bicycle wheel, but instead of a rim and tyre, it had lots of little legs, and on each leg was a shoe.

Any good to someone who builds whacky bikes?

 

[Arch]

Shoe-purb!

 

[alecstilleyedye]

look like trainer wheels…