Footwear in the 21st century: New skills for the design of drastically improved comfort, sustainable, fashion-oriented and scientifically-led footwear products

<< Background >>The footwear industry in Europe is a traditional manufacturing industry that produces a high-added value consumer product, part of the Creative Industries and European Culture and Heritage. The EU Footwear Industry has to meet the ever-increasing expectations of consumers to whom comfort has become top priority. Footwear specialists have now to integrate higher manufacturing standards that take into account consumer wellbeing when designing their products.<< Objectives >>In SciLED Knowledge Alliance, the footwear life-cycle is revised and new knowledge is incorporated into the design process in order to provide a scientific basis for drastically improved fashion, comfort and sustainable oriented products. New skills and professional footwear paths are developed aiming to improve the workforce’s creativity and competitiveness, rendering the sector more attractive to young people.<< Implementation >>Project partners have investigated footwear comfort requirements, sustainability parameters and looked into the role of specific materials in these aspects. Together with other companies, research centres and Higher Education partners in the project, this Knowledge Alliance has in parallel analysed current footwear qualifications offered in Higher Education. Skills and competences currently taught have been thoroughly reviewed, and innovative learning tools and methods have been identified.<< Results >>This groundwork has allowed the consortium to determine the required qualifications for Footwear Designers and Product Managers to address comfort and sustainability in footwear, as well as the best ways to teach and engage students. The results of this research are the foundation of the cutting-edge and state-of-the-art curricula and related training content supported by innovative learning tools that the project is developing.