Delft students market new hip slipper
28 May 2009
Young and trendy people in Holland are introduced to a new concept: ‘plakkies’. This is the Afrikaans word for slippers. Two Delft students took the initiative for the development of a superior designer slipper, which is now produced in Durban, South Africa.
The idea came from students Michel Boerrigter (Industrial Design Engineering) and Arnoud Rozendaal (Aerospace Engineering). They have set up a socially responsible slipper factory in the slum districts of Durban, providing jobs and a decent living to residents in the area.
Used car tyres
Well-known Dutch shoe designer Jan Jansen and students from the Industrial Design Engineering faculty came up with the design for the trendy slipper. The soles are made from used car tyres, and the colourful patterns were designed by orphans from the slums around Durban. All profits made from the sale of ‘plakkies’ will be donated to orphan projects in South Africa.